For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion
“Embrace” by Sara Caporaletti
For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion
By Michaela Elise Russo
End-of-life conversion stories are always awe striking. On occasion, a priest will deliver a homily about a dying patient he cared for, or a relative will share a story of a loved one, and in both, we discover that the person, nearing death, reaches out to the Lord as if for the first time, finding peace in time for his final breath. Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen is known for having converted a man on his deathbed, because the Archbishop’s encouragement persisted in the face of consistent rejection. These stories particularly move us, the faithful, because we witness Christ’s heart at work in His people.
Today’s first reading from Ezekiel touches on this, reminding us that the mercy of God will persist, for “if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.” What beautiful insight into the mercy of God! How beautiful also that, as Christians, we know this mercy spoken of in the Old Testament is affirmed in the New via the Passion of Christ, which we spend Lent recalling and, indeed, living ourselves.
Yet, I’m inspired today by this reading to ask myself a harder question — one I’ve never necessarily asked before: How often do I treat sin like something I can write off, so long as in the end, I make the right choice? How often do we treat life like a free-for-all, so long as in that final moment, we sincerely ask God for His mercy? Why do we treat the final moment as if it were the only moment that matters?
This reading is a blissful reminder that God invites us into His loving arms, and if we commit ourselves to the Lord—even if it takes all of our lives to do so—we will find eternal happiness in the glory of Heaven. It is not, however, an invitation to live recklessly, presumptuously, and carelessly, simply because God will forgive us in our last five minutes if we say we’re sorry. For in this very same reading from Ezekiel, we also receive the warning that if the faithful turn from faith and choose what is wicked, we die.
This Lent, and this very day, meditating on the daily readings, I find myself called to examine this side of myself. The side that wants to keep making choices for me and my life, rather than for God and His people. That wants to control outcomes. That wants to take the easy way out. I find myself asking the Lord more sincerely for His mercy now, and calling on the grace of the Holy Spirit to guide me to honor that mercy moving forward.
This Lent, let us stop putting off until tomorrow that invitation to God’s loving embrace. Let us ask Christ to help us surrender to His will more deeply. Let’s choose what is right over what is easy—sit in the discomfort, endure the hardship. Ask for mercy today and for grace to do better tomorrow. Let us choose to unite ourselves with Christ’s Passion, for only through Passion comes the Resurrection.
Kiki is an actor, photographer, and published author from New York, with performance credits from around the globe. She is currently based in Honolulu, Hawai’i, and you can learn more about her current endeavors at kikifox.me.