Victory in Christ

 Jesus tells us that “in the world you will have many troubles” (John 16:33). Jesus asserts this with a note of certainty and finality. In the world, we will face some troubles. Whether we like it or not, there will be troubles, from within and from without. There will be trouble when we least expect it and from where we least expect it.

It is naïve to wish that our lives were entirely peaceful; without any disturbance, challenge, and trouble. To live in such a way as to avoid all troubles is an exercise in futility. What is even worse? Trouble meets the person unprepared, confused and broken. Challenges, troubles and difficulties are part of human existence. We don’t need to look very far; we don’t need to search very hard to find problems in our world, society, families and personal lives.

However, this is not to say that life is full of troubles and nothing else. The statement of Jesus that there will be trouble in this world is not an invitation to pessimism and cynicism. Christ is not asking us to wear the glasses of negativity so that the only thing we see is trouble and nothing but trouble. Christ is not asking us to live a dry, joyless, dull and drab life. There are genuine moments of joy and happiness, excitement and ecstasy in life. Even in the midst of troubles; one can still experience profound peace and consolation.

There are two extremes we need to avoid. First, to wish to live a life without any trouble at all – this is actually an illusion. Second, to see trouble in everything – this is actually the greatest trouble. What we need is a balanced, informed and critical view of life. Life is a mixture, a combination of opposites – good and bad, truth and falsehood, light and darkness, joy and sadness, and happiness and sorrow.

Again, our emphasis is not on the fact that there are troubles in the world. Our emphasis is on the victory that Christ has won for us. Jesus says: “Take courage, I have conquered the world” (

John 16:33). As Christians, we believe that in the midst of our troubles, Christ is with us. He will never abandon us. He will grant us the courage, strength, fortitude, and graces we need to face the challenges of our lives. Our victory in Christ is indeed guaranteed.

Good Friday 2016

Good Friday is a day of sober reflection. Our Lord Jesus Christ is led like a lamb to the slaughter (Is 53:7). He is nailed to the cross. He is hanging on a tree. Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing, ours the sorrows he was carrying, while we thought of him as someone being punished and struck with affliction by God (Is 53:4). The good Shepherd willingly lays down his life for his sheep (Jn 10:11).  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again (Jn 10:18).

Today Jesus Christ is betrayed by one of his closest friends- Judas. He is vehemently denied by Peter three times. He is abandoned by the rest of the fearful disciples. He is unjustly tried and condemned. He is violently slapped on the Cheek.  He is severely scourged by the pillar and his body covered with lacerating wounds. He is crowned with thorns and his adorable face covered with blood. He is nailed to the cross. He is insulted by the soldiers and heartless mob. Finally he screamed: “it is finished”. He gave up his spirit.  He is pierced through with a lance, blood and water flowed from his side.

Only sacrificial love can explain the meaning and purpose of the Crucifixion and death of Jesus. Only an infinite, boundless love can explain the fact that God came to this sinful world to die for our sins.  Greater love than this no one has, for a man to lay down his life for his friends (Jn 15:13). St Paul tells us: it is very difficult for a man to die for his friend. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). “It is love to the end that confers on Christ’s sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when he offered his life" (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 616). St Paul of Cross says “the passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine love. The greatest and most overwhelming work of God’s love.”

We see Jesus hanging on the cross, in agonizing and excruciating pain, his whole body covered with blood.  Jesus does not need our pity or sympathy.  What Jesus wants is our conversion, a change of heart, a contrite spirit. Let us remember that it is our sins that nailed him to the cross. We will be the most ungrateful people, if we see Jesus bleeding and dying on the cross and we ignore his suffering and death, and continue living in sin. True reverence for the Lord’s suffering and death means conversion. The commitment to new life in Christ is the best way we can show gratitude to Jesus for the hefty price he paid for our sins.