Marquette Today

Campus News and Events

Submit news

Menu

  • Campus News
    • Top News for Students
    • Top News for Faculty & Staff
    • Magazines at Marquette
    • Campus Alerts
  • Archives
  • Submit news
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Contacts
  • @MarquetteToday
  • Events Calendar
  • Topics
    • Community Engagement
    • Diversity
    • Innovation
    • Master Planning
    • Marquette Momentum
    • Research
    • Strategic Planning

Fifth week of Lent reflection: Jesus as a light

April 10, 2019

By Derrick Witherington, assistant director of Campus Ministry for Liturgical Programs

For five weeks of Lent, we have been preparing to celebrate the most important week of the entire liturgical year: Holy Week. This Sunday, we celebrate Palm Sunday and begin to walk with Jesus in the final stage of His journey to the cross and resurrection. It’s only fitting that our reflection this week focuses on Jesus’ passion and crucifixion in Luke 23:1-49.

In Luke’s account of these events, we can see nearly every variety of human dysfunction on display – lies, slander, mob rule, unjust conviction, as well as verbal, physical and emotional abuse.

Yet during this rampant brokenness, what strikes me most is that we still find moments of beauty and light. Jesus comforts the women He meets as He makes his way toward Calvary. Jesus promises the repentant thief that he is to join Him in paradise.

I believe the message here is that in moments of utter darkness, confusion and rejection, we all not only can find moments of light and beauty, we also have the freedom to make and enable these things to truly shine forth.

After everything that Jesus went through between the evening of Holy Thursday and the afternoon of Good Friday, I think nobody would have blamed Him if He would have turned completely inward in those final moments.

Nobody would have blamed Jesus if He had not even noticed the women who were weeping for him – or paid attention to the words coming from the fellow condemned men hanging on His left and on right. Yet during what must have been incredible physical and emotional pain, Jesus still manages to turn outward in compassion to the people and situations around Him.

We all have personal struggles, pains and questions. Life sometimes might strike us as being a very cruel and lonely place in the wake of a terrible exam, failed relationship or uncertainty regarding what the future will bring.

One of the many lessons of Jesus’ passion is that even in the darkest moments, the way to get through it is by pushing ourselves – to continue to be ambassadors of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness. As followers of Christ, we are not guaranteed constant comfort, but we are guaranteed the promise of resurrection and new life, rising out of the ashes and debris of the messes in which we sometimes find ourselves.

As we enter Holy Week, let us pray for the grace to always remember that we are called to spread God’s compassion and mercy, even if we find ourselves in dark moments. When we do this, we are faithfully following the example of Jesus – from the cold darkness of the cross to the radiant brightness of the resurrection.

Filed Under: For Faculty/Staff, For Students, News

More news

Heather Van Vugt Ramirez named to BizTimes Milwaukee’s Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders

June 8, 2023

Support on-campus retail tenants as traffic slows

June 8, 2023

Professor earns prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award for international research

June 8, 2023

Register for an on-campus counseling session with TIAA, June 13-14

June 8, 2023

Marquette, NMDSI award seven mini grants to university faculty

June 8, 2023

Marquette, Safe & Sound hosting Juneteenth Celebration, June 17

June 8, 2023

Cara Hardin to serve as acting Title IX coordinator

June 8, 2023

No vacation from vocation as Anselm Smith enters seminary

June 6, 2023

More news

Quick Links

  • Faculty/Staff News
  • Student News
  • Magazines at Marquette
Submit news

Featured Stories

Shaka Smart Marquette Basketball defeats Butler 60-52 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI on National Marquette Day Saturday February 4, 2023

“Picked to Finish Ninth”

Marquette Magazine remembers the championship men’s basketball season that began in obscurity.

Priestly callings: Two graduates find spiritual purpose at Marquette

Anselm Smith, Arts ’23 and Noah Smith, Arts ’23 — no relation — are both entering the priesthood after graduating from Marquette this spring.

Seize the summer: Milwaukee hotspots to explore

Students in Milwaukee this summer should try spending time exploring and discovering a lesser-known side of Milwaukee after summer classes, internships or work. 

Read more featured stories.

Safety

MUPD announces body-worn camera pilot program; full adoption anticipated in fall 2023

Free steering wheel locks available from MUPD; new software available for Hyundai vehicles

Safety Task Force efforts help lead to reduced crime on campus

Human Resources News

Register for an on-campus counseling session with TIAA, June 13-14

Looking back on May’s wellness events

Registration for summer GROW classes now available

Research

A watchful eye — and clear voice — on clean water

Using chemistry to address a scientific challenge — and a human one

Marquette faculty and staff research grants from March 2023

Awards & Accomplishments

Heather Van Vugt Ramirez named to BizTimes Milwaukee’s Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders

Professor earns prestigious Fulbright Scholar Award for international research

Marquette, NMDSI award seven mini grants to university faculty

Marquette UniversityCopyright 2023 by Marquette University
MARQUETTE.EDU // A TO Z