Consolation, freesias and the Way of Life

It's Good Friday, and my reflections these past few days are somehow being woven together by a sculpture, a passion play and a little bouquet of purple freesias... 

They began at the start of this month, when I attended a Passion play by RISE Theatre. The format of this kind of play, and the layout of the hall meant a greater sense of intimacy and immediacy, as everything happened almost within touching distance of the audience, with the occasional bit of participation, as when Jesus joyously shook our hands during his entry into Jerusalem. The play itself was very powerful – the immediacy making it especially so. When Jesus collapsed on his way to the cross, he did so almost at my feet; when he lifted his anguished face it was there, before me... and I had to restrain my inner St Veronica from rushing forward to do something, anything, to help or console him. 

This 'St Veronica moment' reminded me of the compassion which lies at the heart of the grace of the Third Week of the Exercises; a 'suffering with', which is a 'being with', in increasing closeness and compassion, throughout Jesus' Passion. This is a grace of pure love: not seeking or expecting healing or consolation from Jesus, but desiring only to reach out, to heal, to console - to do anything - to love Love in his heartbreaking darkness and pain. 

Who is Jesus asking me, asking you, to console today, in their anguish and suffering, their injustice, longing and loneliness? And how is Jesus calling me, calling you, to the compassion and courage needed for this?

And then, a few days later, I visited Ely Cathedral for the first time. I didn't notice it at first - in fact, I'd stood beneath it while looking in another direction! - but just by the entrance there's a massive aluminium sculpture snaking its way up an otherwise bare wall, towards the light which complements its own lightening tone. The Way of Life, just like life itself, is a winding, uneven, at times rough-textured path, ending - or maybe beginning - in the light of a cross which is also irregular and uneven. 

What is the irregular, uneven, multi-textured way that Jesus invites me, invites you, to journey with him, into the light and the love of his Cross...? And who does he invite you to bring with you, into that light and that love?

And finally... These freesias were given to me yesterday. They came with a little palm - a Holy Week reminder of human fickleness, and of my own inconstancy. But the freesias themselves, and their just-right purpleness, stirred a memory: these were the flowers used to decorate the celebratory cake made for my First Vows, when I pledged myself to God, and to a closer, more intimate following of Jesus, in the Society. Pledged myself, too, to our mission of revealing the unmeasurable, self-giving Love at the heart of our redemption; the love at the heart of today, and of all our loving.

What grace of renewed commitment do I, do you, need Jesus to draw forth in us, to enable us to respond to his call to be his love in our hurting world, with and for others...?

Wishing you a blessed and graced Good Friday, in which we can all centre our hearts in the Love we contemplate, allowing it to shape our own response...