I was telling some friends recently that I’m amazed at how quickly Lent flew by this year. It came during the intense time of preparation for the final stage of my doctorate, so I’m guessing that may have had something to do with it, but as I talked to people, they had the same experience. Maybe it’s that we’re all just too busy.
Today is a day for quiet reflection. It can take place in a church or chapel, in your house or garden, or anywhere where you can have some downtime. Read the story of Christ’s passion and death found in the gospels. Ponder the words, imagine yourself there. Would you have been one of those who stayed, or one who ran away as fast as they could? I’d like to think I would have stayed, but….
I found this image today while searching for something else. I never heard of Niccolo dell’Arca until today, but he created these terracotta figures early on in the Renaissance, between 1463 and 1490. Look closely at the anguish on the faces of Jesus’ disciples. What grief.
While we can experience the sorrow and loss, we also know what happens next. So, mixed with our sense of sorrow, we also experience the anticipation of the empty tomb and all that comes with it.
