Diving into the Deep End (04/4/2026)

When I was a child, I went to Girl Scout Camp at the Laura S. Walker State Park. That’s where I learned to swim. Actually, to this day, I’m more of a dog paddler than a swimmer, but that is where I was officially instructed in water sports. At first, we spent our lake time in the shallow water where it was safe. Truth is, at any moment, if we tired, we could quit our strokes and simply stand up. In those safe depths, we had fun frolicking in the lake, splashing water at one another. But then in my middle school years, the instructor took it up a notch. She told us it was time for the real adventure to begin, time to leave the safe, shallow water, and dive into the deep. It was scary, but it was only then that I truly understood what it meant to swim.

We’ve been on our Lenten journeys now for six weeks. We’ve pondered the readings of the day, sought a deeper understanding of our faith, and through the three spiritual exercises of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we have sought to grow and change. Up until yesterday, Good Friday, we were in the shallow waters, we were making progress, but we were safe.

That all changed yesterday on our journeys. Yesterday, as we stood watch at the foot of the cross with the Blessed Mother, the women who had followed Jesus, and the beloved disciple John, the LORD called us to the true adventure. Yesterday we were invited to dive into the deep end of our relationship with our LORD. As we stood contemplating our Lord on the cross and as we stand today at the stone sealing the tomb where our Lord’s broken and bruised body was placed, we must answer the question He asked us repeatedly. “Who do you say I am?”

Today, “tomb time,” before the sun rises on Easter morn, what will our answer be? How have we really changed since Ash Wednesday? Have we experienced a real conversion of mind and heart, a remarkable experience of drawing nearer to our LORD and in the process to our brothers and sisters? Have we shed those things that have hampered our relationship with our loving LORD as well as those that harm our relationships with our sisters and brothers? Have we grown enough that our faith, our hope, and our love will buoy us even in rough and deep waters?

Today is a day of deep reflection. Let us meet it with courage and honesty. Let us dive into the deep with hope. Let us with intense faith, resilient hope and abiding love answer Christ’s question: “Who do you say I am?”

Until tomorrow, love well.