The window next to the Sacred Heart Altar is one of our restored windows. The colors are bright and vibrant. It is a little-viewed window as one must stand next to the altar to see it. The scene in this window is fitting for the beginning of Lent. It depicts Jesus being condemned to death. Jesus was brought before the crowd, after being scourged. He stands before them, bound, crowned with thorns, and holding a reed, a mocking reference to being the King of the Jews. Pilate’s words, “Behold the man,” (Jn 19:5) are in Latin (Ecce Homo) below the image.
The crowd behind Jesus gestures accusingly at him. Their hands and fingers point at him and the fist of one is raised against him. The colors of the crowd are earth tones, brown and green, symbols of humanity and perhaps, of human sinfulness. They stand in stark contrast to the colors of Jesus’ garments: white symbolizing purity and red, a symbol of his Passion. Although Pilate did not want to condemn Jesus to death, he gave in to the demands of the crowd. He is seen washing his hands of responsibility. Above Jesus two angels hold the crown of glory that awaits Him as He submits to the will of his Father and accepts his suffering and death. The angels and the light that emanates from the crown also remind us that Jesus, fully human and fully divine will redeem us from the darkness of sin.
On Ash Wednesday we were exhorted to “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Lent gives us the opportunity to look at our lives and see how we can better love God and our neighbor; how we can turn away from the ways we don’t show love, and conform ourselves more to God’s will for us. Through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving we can, with the help of God’s grace, emerge from the shadows of sin which condemned Jesus to death and walk in the light.
The Passionist priests and brothers, the religious order that founded our parish, have a spirituality dedicated to the Passion of Jesus. Many of the images in the church reflect this. Let us remember our Passionist foundation this Lent and pray for those in the world today whose crosses are heavy. May we pray for those in areas of the world torn by war and conflict, especially Ukraine; for those who suffer persecution; for those who suffer from poverty or homelessness; and for those who suffer from serious illness. May we ask God to be with us in our own suffering and lead us into ways of easing the suffering of those around us.