I look out and see daffodils and violets blooming, trees leafing, and birds singing of new life. Another spring is here, anticipating that eternal Spring and the resurrection of all who love Christ and keep His commandments.

This confluence of spring and Holy Week reminds us of a paradox at the heart of things. For as spring follows winter, as day follows night—as God and man are reconciled in Christ—so our life is in His death, and the meaning of our death is in His resurrected life. Just as all of nature sings the glory of God this time of year, so are we to sing out in praise of His self-offering and death, which gives meaning to our self-offering and death—which paves the way for our own resurrection, our own eternal Spring.

We do not worship a distant God. For in becoming one of us, God suffers and dies with us. There could be no other way to redeem humanity but through suffering and death. For death comes to all. It is inevitable. It must be defeated. And the Cross stands as the richest of signs—marking our own death and life in Christ, reminding us that God the Logos died for us, thereby making our suffering and death a passage into eternal life—if we exist in Him.

That death should lead to life is the greatest mystery of all, but it is logical—that is, of the Logos. It makes divine sense. And yet it’s natural to have doubts, because of the nature of existence.

Think of Martha. She was among Christ’s most devoted followers. And yet even she was doubtful when Jesus ordered the tomb opened after Lazarus’s internment of four days: “Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said to him, Lord, by this time he stinks: for he has been dead four days!” (John 11:39).

What point could Jesus have been making by delaying four days?

According to Jewish law, one was deemed officially dead after four days. And so Jesus performs His greatest miracle which no Jew would see as a mere resuscitation after four days.

“I said to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God, didn’t I?” (John 11:40). 

The raising of Lazarus manifests “the glory of God”, but it is a sign for all of us, central to the Christian message. For it points to Christ’s own Resurrection—and to our resurrection in Him. The Way of the Cross is the Way to Life. 

There is no other way:

And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23).

So believe, have faith, and walk in the footsteps of Christ. Love Him, keep His commandments, take up your own cross.  And then you will begin to see the glory of God.

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This week we are called to follow Christ to the Cross, to witness His suffering and death, so that we are prepared to see His Resurrection on Pascha. As He is our God and we are His people, this is required of us. Then we’ll be prepared to face the terrors of suffering and death when our time comes. Then we’ll begin to believe with all our heart.

So come to our Holy Week services, and you will begin to see. Isn’t this what we all so dearly yearn for—deep faith, true vision, allowing us to see beyond the mystery of death into our own resurrection?

Fr. Paul Martin
Annunciation & St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church
New Buffalo, MI