No Shortcut

A Reflection on the Second Reading for March 16th, 2025:
Second Sunday of Lent

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Philippians
3.17 – 4.1

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the Cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm, my beloved, in the Lord in this way.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

It is no coincidence that, as I started to prepare for this reflection and noted the option for a shorter version of this reading, I kept coming up dry. I prayed for the Lord to say what He intended for me to hear from Him through this shortened reading. It had been a busy week, full of activities at work, home and in various ministries. I was tired and grateful that I had the option of a shortened version of scripture upon which to reflect, but nothing was coming from it. Begrudgingly I got up from my chair, took the extra steps to find our print edition of the missalette, and sat to read the longer version, which added an additional sixty-eight words. But oh, how those sixty-eight words mattered!

I am a person who loves a good shortcut. Shortcuts show up in many forms in my life and seemingly make it easier. Buying that new thing I want on credit instead of saving up over time makes me happy in the moment, regardless of the extra interest I end up paying. Staying up on a highway instead of taking the more scenic back road when travelling means I arrive at my destination more quickly, despite missing the hidden gems offered by the little towns I don’t drive through. Watching Mass on livestream some Sundays instead of taking the time needed to drive to the church building gives me time for other activities, even though it means I don’t physically receive the Eucharist or catch up with the people in my parish community. Staying silent in the face of injustice makes my life less chaotic yet robs me of the opportunity to be the light amidst wrongdoing.

These shortcuts appease the “god of my belly” and feel easier in the moment. They reinforce my mind’s preoccupation with earthly things – the new material thing, the next destination, the secular activities extra time on Sunday affords me, the avoidance of conflict by not taking Christian action. Yet none of them brings abiding peace or joy.

Jesus could have taken a shortcut. In His human form and knowing the pain and suffering He was to endure, He prayed, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39) but, because His will was perfectly united to that of His Father’s, He accepted a most inhumane death for our salvation. 

Paul is pleading for us to imitate his example, cleaving ourselves to Christ and His ways, standing firm in what may seem like the long way around instead of leaning into the temptation of the shortcut. 

Lent is a perfect time for taking the longer route, being sure in the knowledge that while it may be bumpier, the journey is better and the destination glorious.

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Sandy Graves

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