Heavy Cross, Rising Light

Painting at the Pure Witness house in Saskatoon

“This is the deep breath before the storm,” muttered Gandalf to Pippin in the Return of the King movie. If Pippin was an allegory for Encounter 1, then Gandalf would be correct in saying so. We are about to experience eight days without leading a retreat proper. And yet, the great storm is Christ’s death and resurrection that, although occurring centuries ago, will be commemorated in a significant way in the following days.  It is when Catholics especially rally in awe, repentance and thanksgiving for the miracle of our salvation that goes beyond all time. Imagine, in one perfectly loving sacrifice, Jesus becomes the bridge between humanity and God. We are eternally grateful for the bridge of the cross.

Crucifixes are religious art pieces that as a Net team we have ample opportunity to see.  An early observation I had was the difference between the average representation of Christ in art between southern and northern Ontario. In southern Ontario Christ is shown as muscular, strong, willing in sacrifice and majestic. This was especially the case in a given parish in Toronto and in the Stations of the Cross at the shrine of the martyrs. Up north on the other hand, Christ was shown as frail, thin and vividly carrying the weight of all sin upon his shoulders. Venture out west into BC, and you’ll find crucifixes that are life size common place. Christ here is shown relatable to even proportion. He was the God man that truly suffered and felt human pain.

One of the first charismatic Christian songs I ever heard, and that we sing often as a team, is “Here I am to worship” by Chris Tomlin. A line that has always struck me in the song was:

“I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sins upon that cross.”

…it is true. I will never comprehend the full burden of God’s free sacrifice for my sins. As a team we watched the Passion of Christ film for Good Friday which highlights the heavy suffering Christ’s journey towards Calvary. At the end of the film however, the glimpse of the resurrection shows Christ’s shroud falling softly as if His body had dematerialised. Christ so absolutely desired our salvation and new life in Him that he rises with ease and power, a light contrast to His Passion, and He reigns as the Light forever.

My family and team, Encounter 1, have strived to emulate Christ’s time in the desert (even if it is to the smallest degree) so as to be as ready as possible for the paschal mystery. The great hope of Easter is that our Lenten sacrifices help us love God and others more, as well as life itself.

Jesus, you are the saviour of our past, present and future. That is why we will continue to do your work and our mission.


-Francis Nowak