Wednesday, the first Week of Lent

   As we continue our Lenten observance there is a danger that it may become less of a priority for us.  We humans have little tolerance for something that goes on for forty days.  Especially something that isn’t exciting or fun.  Lent is neither exciting or fun; nor should it be.  Contemplation of the mistreatment and death of our Lord is serious business, not an entertainment project.

   It seems that there are very few depictions that adequately capture His sacrifice as it truly was.  Most movies don’t portray the agony of His suffering and death with any real accuracy.  Maybe they don’t want to “offend” the audience, but the audience truly needs to be offended by what He went through to give us life in heaven.  It’s hard to relate to the scourging when it’s shown very sanitized if at all.  Most scenes of the crucifixion do not show the true condition of our Lord when He was crucified.  The Romans had perfected the process of scourging and crucifixion to extract the most pain and agony while tempering it just enough to make it last as long a possible.

   The Passion of the Christ is the only movie I know of that shows anything close to the horror He endured.  I have yet to watch the scourging scene without tears.  The carrying of the cross, the times He fell, Veronica wiping His face are all very emotional, speaking to the magnitude of the beating He had endured.  His pain becomes almost tangible to us.  The crucifixion scene is, again, very difficult to watch.  The pain and agony Jesus endured for us is excruciating and horrific. We must always remember that He chose to suffer these atrocities for our benefit.

   Lent is not supposed to be a time of joy, but a time of sorrow and repentance for our sins; the sins that Jesus paid the price for.  Until we can accept our own responsibility for His torture and death we have failed to truly know Jesus.

   Take the time to sit before a crucifix and contemplate our suffering Lord.  Envision in your mind the agony He endured.  Walk with Mary, the Mother of God as she watched the torture and death of her son.  Try to grasp the full extent of the price He paid for our sins.  It isn’t easy, but we owe it to Him to so our best to recognize the sacrifice He made for us.