“Through Faith, Not Understanding” by Allison Provinsal, Fiat Ventures

“Through Faith, Not Understanding” by Allison Provinsal, Fiat Ventures

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

The Gospel this week is a beautiful one, one that I look forward to all year. There is so much in this story that is the basis of our faith. So much to be taken away and so much to encourage and reassure us in our faith. I’d like to focus on a few points that particularly stick out to me and speak to my heart this Lenten season, as I prepare for Easter.

The Gospel starts with the Last Supper. Jesus institutes the Mass and offers himself in the form of bread and wine to the disciples. This is something I know many Catholics, including myself have struggled to believe and understand. The point I always come back to is that it is not something to be completely understood, but something to believe in with the eyes of faith. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist at Mass, it is a gift of himself to us. It is the most beautiful part of our faith, that without eyes of faith is misunderstood and altogether missed. Jesus gave of himself, and continues to do so through the Eucharist, so that we might be whole. We receive his Body and Blood; not a symbol, but his actual presence, so that we may receive all the graces and blessings that he offers to us. This gift, a gift freely given with no expectations in return, is one of the foundations of our faith.

The next part of the Gospel that resonates with me in a powerful way is when Jesus speaks to Peter. Peter adamantly insists that he would never deny or betray Jesus. He says, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” And Jesus, knowing what lies ahead, very calmly explained that this would not be the case. For me, I look at Peter and see myself. How many times have I denied God, or turned my back on him? It brings a sense of reflection, that is so relevant to the Lenten Season. But my hope comes from the knowledge of what happens later. Even though Peter had the privilege of knowing Jesus personally, and walking by his side, seeing his miracles and hearing his teachings first hand, he was only human, like me. He later does in fact deny Jesus, and he weeps at the realization of what he has just done, but that is not the end of the story. Jesus knew that he would do this, but still knew his dedication and his faith. He did not berate him for doing so, or turn his back on Peter in return, he embraced him and made him the leader of the Church. This is so beautiful to me. Although he publicly denied Jesus, Jesus still saw the good in him and the potential in him, and used him to start the church.

We often need to be reminded that we are only human. That we cannot and will not do everything perfectly, that we will sin, make mistakes, but that we can then seek forgiveness and have all mistakes and sins wiped away. Confession offers a clean slate, something that I often struggle to accept. How can admitting my wrongs to a priest actually wipe all the wrongs away? But this leads me back to my first point, it is not always about having a perfect understanding, it is about faith. Believing in what we cannot see. Believing that God wants to take our pain and suffering away, that he wants us to be united with him one day in Heaven. That is the ultimate goal. Not a God counting our wrongs and keeping a tally of what we did right and what we did wrong to later use it against us. But a God of love and forgiveness who is waiting to forgive us and embrace us in love.

The last part I want to point out is when Simon is tasked with carrying the cross for Jesus. He does not offer to do so, but is burdened with this task. Simon is another character in this story I can relate to. I have often heard the saying, “this is a cross you have to carry” when referring to a struggle or hardship in my own life or someone else’s.  Each little struggle we are given is our small way of helping to carry the cross with Simon. When in the midst of hardship or suffering, it is very difficult to see the point, or to understand WHY. But what we can be certain of is that God can make good come from suffering.  And when we accept struggles in life as opportunities to grow in faith and unite our suffering with Jesus’ on the cross, this bring us that much closer to our eternal goal.  So this year as you pray about Jesus’ Passion and Death, don’t forget about the Resurrection on the other side of Good Friday, and that God can transform not only our suffering, but can transform us.