02 Apr Life Beyond this Life

I pulled into the parking lot behind the Franciscan monastery in D.C. and turned off the ignition of my car. I paused briefly, eyeing the steady downpour before deciding to “make a break” for Hermitage #1, a cozy studio apartment constructed for spiritual retreats nestled in the woods behind the monastery gardens that are open to the public.

I woke up that morning smiling with anticipation for 24 hours tucked away in the woods. No fights to break up, no work to be done, no dishes to wash. For 24 hours, I could just rest and be with Jesus. After taking a look at my weather app, I couldn’t help but wilt a little on the inside when I saw the forecast: rain all day. I’m a firm believer that “we have not because we ask not” so I put forth my little plea to the Father, “Lord, I would love if there were a break in the rain today so I could take a walk in the gardens.”

At 3pm, the rain stopped and I gave thanks for answered prayer. I put on my coat and hat and ventured out into the gardens. As I came to the bottom of the grotto area where there are several replicas from the Holy Land, I stopped to admire the rain drops that were hanging, suspended on slender tree branches like diamonds shining in the sliver of sunlight that shone through the clouds.

I turned my gait towards the Stations of the Cross, which begin near the grottos below and weave steadily upwards, perhaps in an effort to retrace Christ’s difficult walk to Golgotha. I have walked these stations many times, though not often alone. Usually I am with my family and I am in “teacher mode,” trying to walk my children through Christ’s journey to the Cross.

But that day I was simply a disciple, longing to tread the path of my Savior and reflect on his great sacrifice for me. I paused long at each station, meditating on the moments displayed there. I winced inwardly as I walked past the stations of Jesus falling once, twice and three times.

I pondered the assistance of those who cared for him on his path to Calvary. And I stood transfixed at station 10 where Jesus dies on the cross. As I gazed at this depiction of Christ suspended between heaven and earth, the words of John the Baptist flooded my mind: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

It is easy to allow our attention to turn towards what is broken in the world and simply remain there in our brokenness. And yet the invitation still remains for us to “Behold the Lamb.” He still beckons us to lift up our eyes and look at him. When we do, we see that He alone holds the salvation and healing that we (and our broken world) desperately need. He is the only one who could bear in his body the sins of humanity and offer us the free gift of eternal life.

The Resurrection of Jesus is the unofficial fifteenth station of the Cross. We have walked through a year with more than its fair share of grief and death. But the resurrection of Christ reminds us that death does not have the final word. Christ’s resurrection reminds us that death will be swallowed up in victory. There is life beyond this life.

Precious Lord Jesus, thank you for opening up the way for us into the Kingdom of God. We rejoice in your mercy, forgiveness, and redemption. We rejoice that you are the resurrection and the life and whoever believes in you, though he die, yet shall he live. Help us to walk in the living hope of your resurrection every day and to share this hope we have with others.