Lent is a sacred season to reflect on the passion of Jesus Christ. The word “passion” comes from the Latin passio, meaning to suffer or endure. The first day of Lent is commemorated by Ash Wednesday. The symbolism of ashes speaks of humility and repentance for our sins. In our self-centeredness, we often pursue our own desires and living for the world that will eventually perish, as we return to dust. However, the life of Jesus in loving to the end is what lasts to eternity and gives us eternal life through the Cross.

While suffering is often seen as a curse, Jesus saw it as the ultimate expression of love. In John 13:1, as His hour drew near, He loved His disciples to the end. People naturally seek to avoid suffering, yet love itself requires sacrifice. Jesus chose the difficult path, revealing that true love does not retreat when hardships arise-it endures to the end.

As Jesus prepared to depart to the Father, His disciples were caught up in their own ambitions. In Matthew 20:20-23 and Luke 22:24, they argued over who would be the greatest, missing the weight of the moment. In His greatest hour of suffering, Jesus taught that the greatest in the kingdom is the one who serves. His heart must have ached, knowing His closest disciples failed to grasp the depth of His coming sacrifice. Yet, He did not turn away from them. Instead, He continued to love, teach, and serve, even as He bore the loneliness of the Cross in His heart.

It is easy to be consumed by our own trials, losing sight of others. The greater the difficulty, the harder it is to love. Yet Jesus showed the true life of servanthood-one that loves even in suffering, one that endures even when forsaken. His life was not mere words, but the embodiment of perfect love. No philosophy or institution can teach the depth of such love, yet Christ revealed it to the weak and lowly.

As we meditate on His life, let us treasure even one verse of His Word, reflecting on the grace and beauty of the Cross. Beyond suffering, we find a life filled with love-one that leads not to despair but to eternal glory. May we follow Jesus on this path, embracing love that endures to the end.