God has encouraged us in the first reading of his providential love for us when we allow ourselves to rely on Him. His grace and providence are depicted in the life of a servant who submits himself entirely to God. However, living a life well covered with His providence is not without suffering. But the consolation and strength come from God’s promise to guide us through our trials. In the second reading, Jesus himself showed us what it means to empty ourselves and rely on God our Father’s providential plans for us. In His humility, He emptied Himself of His divine glory and willingly accepted suffering with His human body. The Gospel on His Passion has shown us the extent of the suffering that He endured on His human body. In the excruciating pain of betrayal, rejection, and physical torture, He stayed faithful in doing His Father’s will and even prayed for forgiveness for everyone. There is no aspect of suffering that Jesus has not experienced, hence, in every moment where we experience pain in our suffering, let us look to Him who accompanies us through the pain of our crosses.
As we begin our Holy Week, let us reflect on the paschal mystery, the dying and rising of Jesus, and humbly accept God’s invitation to be transformed in living our lives like the paschal mystery.