As we move toward Holy Week, it is a good time for us to consider our lives in relation to the Paschal Mystery. How do the contours of our community life reflect the life, death, and resurrection of Christ? The alignment of our lives as brothers in community is meant to be with that of Jesus. We each, and as a community, have had experiences of physical death as well as other types of death along with crosses that we bear. We live in the hope of the Resurrection of Christ, which moves us beyond our way of thinking into that of God, since our hope is not in ourselves, but is in Christ.
As leaders, we can be consumed with many of the details of administration and not focus on what is central at this time. Holy Week, particularly the Paschal Triduum, can refocus us on Christ and sacrificial service and love. The actions of Jesus, especially the washing of the feet and laying down his life in love through death on the Cross, offer us examples of the type of leadership we as men religious are called to. Selfless and sacrificing service is not done on our own. It is graced by Christ. We rely not only on his example, but on his grace.
All of this leads us to Easter joy and hope. It is not all on us. We are one with Christ, our hope. He is the hope that “does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5).
May you have a blessed Paschal Triduum and Easter season!
| Frank Donio, SAC
Executive Director |
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This is an excerpt from the April 2025 Items of Note. Items of Note is a monthly email for CMSM members and partners. If you are not receiving Items of Note once a month via email, please email contact@cmsm.org.
