The Good News

Last night, the kids and I attended a Passion play by the eighth graders at our parish school. We have attended this every year for the past several, and it's always a highlight of Lent for our family.

Every year, I am moved to tears. These fourteen year old kids do an amazing job portraying the passion and death of Christ. After the fourteenth station, when Jesus is carried into the tomb (or sacristy, since this takes place in the church), all of the lights are dimmed. Then, we listen to a mournful version of "Were You There."

The church is silent. We are in darkness. Jesus is dead.

LilBro leans in close and whispers, "Is it over?"

"No." I reply. "The best part is yet to come. Jesus is going to rise from the dead. He lives... and so will we."

About a minute later, Jesus, now robed in white and gold, emerges from the tomb (sacristy). "Peace be with you," he announces to us. Lights fills the church, as he walks down the center aisle.

Princess smiles and claps her hands. "Yay, Mommy! Jesus is alive!"

I know. What a joy it is to know how this sad story ends!

As a family, we don't usually pray the fifteenth station when we pray the Stations during Lent. But, on this night, when we are not just praying the stations, but experiencing them, it feels so incredibly joy-ful to include the Good News... that Jesus loved us enough to suffer so brutally and die so humbly... and that He conquered death forever... for all of us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you

Because, by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.