The 40 days of Lent point us to the cross and to the hope and joy of Easter Sunday. During these days, it behooves us to take part in spiritual exercises that will, in some way, transform our lives as we grow closer to Christ and allow ourselves to glimpse His heart. Everything we do during Lent should help us focus on Christ’s sacrifice and on the extraordinary gift of His Resurrection.
That is the goal of a new Lent devotional by Fr. Columba Jordan, CFR, and Ascension. Entitled Crux, which is Latin for cross, this devotional, along with an optional journal and daily videos on the Ascension app, comprise “a system for doing Lent well.” Even if you simply read the devotional, you will profit immensely. As you journey through Lent, you will encounter the devotional’s four vital components—daily physical exercise, a dietary fast, daily reading of Scripture, and a nightly examen—as you work to care for yourself body and soul.
The Crux challenge
Making change in our lives takes discipline—both physical and spiritual. That’s why physical challenges are part of Crux. As Fr. Columba says, we must nurture all aspects of our body, even when we feel weak. He explains that Lent is a time when “we discover our own weakness and the God who meets us there.” This program prepares us well to “surrender our weakness.” Fr. Columba explains that we have to give everything to God so that we can be “built up in Christ.” He continues, “God is constantly trying to tell you: You are His child. You are His beloved. And He delights in you. This is where our Lenten journey starts. . . . The goal is to simply believe, internalize, and live these truths, removing every obstacle to them in your heart and mind.”
When we truly believe that we are a child of God, that we are “His beloved,” we will understand that the same goes for all people, even those we may not like. That means we will see others through God’s eyes and treat them with an agape—or self-giving—love that wants only what’s best for them.
Crux is a beautiful way to grow closer to God this Lent, but it’s not simply a tool to increase our faith. If we allow it, it can transform our lives and thus the lives of those around us.
Faith needs works
In James chapter 2, we read that faith without works is dead. If we truly desire to live authentically Catholic lives, we must outwardly live our faith, even when it may feel uncomfortable. Yes, it can be difficult to proclaim the truths of Christ’s Church at the workplace, on social media, or even at home. It can be difficult to put that faith into practice by volunteering, by donating to shelters or programs that help moms and babies, or by sitting with an elderly neighbor when he’s lonely, and it can feel intimidating to speak up when we hear someone advocating for threats to life. But these are all actions we are called to take, for if we isolate ourselves and keep our faith hidden, we will never teach others about the Church Christ founded and about the importance of their eternal salvation. Crux gives us the tools we need to attain and live out this moral courage. It’s like a gym for our spiritual lives.
Reflection questions for each day ask readers to ponder certain concepts like how to bring others to Christ, how to build and better practice our own faith, and how to pray more intentionally so that we can be more in tune with the heart of Christ. And then they encourage us to take action.
Through biblical stories and readings, we learn to conform our lives to those who knew Christ and those who followed Him. We learn that our actions matter—not just for our own salvation but for others. As one line in the devotional teaches, “Because Levi pays attention and responds to Jesus’ call, others like him—sinners and fellow tax collectors—are able to encounter Jesus at Levi’s house. His attentiveness, by extension, blesses other people around him.”
We must understand that our faith blesses those around us. And so we must ponder how we can use this time of Lent to focus on our own lives AND to focus on the well-being of those around us. We can only come to an answer through intentional spiritual exercises that prompt us to think about the importance of serving others. Fr. Columba advises, “Notice how, ever since Jesus declared His coming Passion, the theme of serving others has come up. After the second prediction, He says to serve the least; after today’s third prediction He tells us to serve all. This isn’t just some random recommendation—this is Jesus’ heart.”
As we walk through the days of Lent, it’s incumbent on each of us to consider how we will serve others with a heart like Christ’s. We need only open our eyes to the world around us and ask ourselves, “Do we seek each day to do acts of love for others—our family, friends, strangers, the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, immigrants, outcasts? Are we striving to perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy?”
Deeply reflecting on these questions causes us to think about the people around us.
Fr. Columba writes, “As Christians, we want others to see the light of Christ in us. . . . Like Jesus, we should employ our gifts in the service of others, letting our light shine brightly before all so that we can lead them to the source of that light.”
Lent is the perfect time to practice our faith and to let that light shine. And with the spiritual tools we receive after journeying with Crux, we truly will have done Lent well.
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