I was inspired to draw two contemplative sketches for the Lenten season. Let us take time to reflect on God’s love for us. In this post, we can reflect on a great mystery: the cross.

“Behold The Wood” by Dan Schutte — I drew these artworks while praying with this song.

Contemplating The Cross

“And happily we cannot always understand! Otherwise, how would it be possible to allow the Wisdom of God to freely work according to His designs? Where would there be room for confidence? It is true that for many things we would not act as God would act! We would not have chosen the folly of the cross as a means of redemption! But fortunately it is the Wisdom of God and not ours that rules all things, because it is infinitely more powerful and more loving and, above all, more merciful than ours.” 

—Searching for and Maintaining Peace, Father Jacques Philippe, pg.32.

Our Christian journey is a great mystery. We wouldn’t normally choose suffering, hardship, or toil because it is very painful. Yet, because Jesus chose the cross, so must we. We should therefore not try to understand it but accept it with great faith. It is our weaknesses, troubles, and sufferings that will bear fruit in this life and the next. So let us contemplate, as Jesus did, the crosses that find us in our lives. From the daily troubles to the difficult seasons, there is always some piece of the cross to accept. Let us not lose hope; for it is the cross that bears us up; it is the cross that bears our salvation. Without it, we would not have the resurrection; with it, we have access to eternal life. Contemplate the great mystery of the cross and be thankful.  God can use anything and everything for our salvation.

Hugging The Cross

“Jesus will never let the Cross crush you; on the contrary, it will lift you up toward Heaven. It is no longer you who will carry it; it is the Cross which will carry you. Jesus took upon Himself the bitterest Cross, and He will add a balm to it before giving it to you — that is certain. The sweetness of the crosses accepted with the joy of free will is a great mystery, yet very real. That is why you must embrace it with open arms. If you hesitate, and drag it along, it will become insupportably heavy. Jesus will withdraw the sweetness from it, because you will have turned away from Him in turning away from it.

— I Believe In Love, Father Jean C.J. D’Elbée, page 205-206.

Love is intimate. Suffering is part of charity. In fact, the Beloved grows closer to us the more we suffer. Rather than run away from suffering and the cross, let us embrace it with a hug. Let us accept the cross and be transformed by it. For when suffering and trials are given, we can know that the Good Lord is sending us a piece of his love. Who can love if they cannot suffer? Who can grow deeper in intimacy without sharing each other’s hearts? Jesus wants to share his heart and life with us, and the cross will play its part.