Third Week of Lent

Lenten reflection:

March 25:

Today the Church celebrates the Annunciation of the Lord. Imagine, if you will, that you are a fly on the wall witnessing the Archangel Gabriel appearing to Mary announcing that she will be the mother of God, the Theotokos. As you watch Mary’s reaction go from being stupefied to petrified, there’s an even greater, albeit latent feeling, acceptance and warm embrace. During this Lent season we might feel that we are unworthy of hosting Jesus in our hearts, and yet, there’s no greater place He’d rather be in. God became like us to literally show us that we are worthy. Like any good teacher, Jesus leads by example, limited by the same human body that you and I have, needing to eat, sleep, laugh and cry. Let us accept Jesus the only way we know how at LaSalle, with open arms. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever. 

March 27:

Today’s Gospel of Luke describes Jesus driving out a demon of a mute person, thus restoring their speech. Jesus begs most of the people He heals to remain quiet about their miracles, with most doing just the opposite. How can we possibly contain ourselves with our hearts bursting with awe and affection? Christians have been and are still persecuted for proclaiming the good news and yet we can’t help it. Saint John Baptist de la Salle advises us not to make any distinction between our work and our faith. This week, make sure you take the necessary space to exhibit your faith. LaSalle has many great spaces for you to do so. Whether you have questions in class, rituals before your next match, or songs of praise in the faith-based events throughout campus, exercise your God given right to live your faith loudly. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever. 

Brother Javi Castro, FSC

Looking at the art:

Paired in the museum with the stained glass window of the Nativity by the same artist, this window depicts the last moments of Jesus’s life on the cross. With his eyes raised to heaven and his body lacking the scars and blood of flogging, Jesus hardly looks in pain. In fact, he looks resting on the cross rather than hanging with drooping arms and collapsed torso as is often depicted. Looking up at him on Jesus’s right is his mother Mary and on his left standing is his beloved disciple John and kneeling is Mary Magdalene. This composite of the four haloed figures is the traditional representation of the Crucifixion, here so stylized that it is devoid of emotion. Like in the Nativity, this Crucifixion is cast within an ornate frame of architecture that is part of the stained-glass window itself reminding us that this is a window within a window. Beyond the window can be seen the outline of the city of Jerusalem, a dimming sky and closer even a few trees to fill in the scene and give the viewer the illusion of looking out a window.

Reflection

As Brother Leonard has pointed out, this is a crucifixion scene without emotion, sanitized so that we are no longer offended. Over the years we have removed the blood and gore from the cross and with that we have also removed the overwhelming power of the cross. Not that blood and gore are what the crucifixion is all about! But when we have sanitized it so much that we can walk by a depiction of it and not even notice it, then we have robbed it of its power. The Carthusian motto, “Stands the Cross, Still point of the turning world” would have resonated with the gospel writers. Each gospel, in its own way leads up to the cross and then leads from the cross.  Is the cross the center of my life or, as Saint La Salle asks each one of us, are we willing to “Throw yourself into God’s arms. He will carry you when the road is rough” (Meditation for Palm Sunday). During this Lent am I letting go of my own ideas of what I want, what I think is best for me and listening quietly to what the cross holds out for me?