Holy Week is a time to get clarity on the Faith. And on ourselves – our role in the world and the Church.

It’s not about the latest bishop-related drama. It’s not about abstract debates over 17th century opinions on sufficient grace. It’s not about how to own the libs and “save the West.” These are not irrelevant, but right now they are mostly distractions. They are not what the Faith is about.

The Faith is about a man, who is God, being nailed to a piece of wood, every hope being dashed, and then Him being seen alive again by His chosen friends, with the promise He will return to do the same for us if we follow the pattern of His life and death. It’s about what happened between a little hill and a cave on the edge of Jerusalem 2000 years ago, and what this does for the world and for your soul, whether or not you choose to advert to its significance and its truth. Other things only really matter because of these events.

We cannot hide from the choice to follow or not, to believe or not, to witness or not. And we cannot diffuse or deflect the responsibility for our soul and for our own testimony to Christ, neither by a cultural framework nor by simply living within a ministerial order. This is comfortable, but it is an illusion – you must choose for yourself – and the choice must be made again and again and again, in various ways.

We must choose, for ourselves, and ultimately by ourselves, even though it is done with others. You and I must stand at the hill and at the cave and render our own judgment, and we must be ready to conform the world and souls to our decision. It is our place in the universe to be “set over” the Gospel in this way, suspended in between the sight of eternal things and mere speculation. True, the Gospel will be carried on without your help – but you will be left behind unless you do your part. So then, choose, and move forward.

I will pray for my readers to have a fruitful Holy Week. Please do the same for me.