In his book, The Power of the Cross, Raniero Cantalamessa writes of our tears, suffering, and one of the most precious verses to remember – Revelation 5:5: “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to Judah’s throne, has won the victory!“
Cantalamessa urges us to repeat the verse to ourselves continually, as if to defy the darkness that overwhelms us (I know, however, that for those of us with depression, anxiety or any other clinical disorder, it’s not that easy and see footnote for medical links).
Still, this is truth, however difficult it is to feel.
“The more a person repeating these words suffers, is weak, and seems defeated, humanly speaking, the louder his cry bellows, shaking the foundations of the powers of darkness.
Through faith, refined like silver in a smelting pot, the person not only resembles but identifies with the Lam who became a victor by accepting to become a victim.
Before the tomb of her dead brother, Jesus said to Martha, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?’
When humanly speaking, we face a situation that seems to have no good outcome, Jesus repeats those words to us: ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’
Later, Cantalamessa returns to our cry, and the One who listens, always, and has overcome, forever.
“When we experience a situation that seems overwhelming, or when God’s plan for our life, or the lives of our loved ones, or for the entire Church, appears to a be a scroll sealed with seven seals, or when we have to endure something without understanding, the whys or wherefores, or when we see people dying surrounded by indifference, that is the time for us to kneel and cry out with all our faith: ‘The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered and he will open the scroll and break its seven seals!’
In him, all victims have received the hope of becoming victors.
Amen.
Cantalamessa notes that Revelation was written while the church was facing intense persecution, despair and doubt.
And for people like you and me — for those with depression or anxiety or OCD or an eating disorder or whatever our struggles — well, that can feel like a daily persecution of its own, can’t it — one that produces both despair and doubt.
The persecution of living in a fallen world, with a fallen (and failing) body. Our own minds can persecute us. Accusing, doubting, despairing.
And we certainly don’t have to be reminded that there’s darkness in the world, or pain in our heart. “Man is born to trouble.”
But, as certain as that sadness is, there is another certainty and it’s attached to eternity: “The Lion has won the victory.”
He has. You have to hold onto that tighter than anything, and I have to, as well, or else I would surely fall.
And even though we’ve found our home in Christ, we are not in his home yet. But we will be one day. And for every day.
May the Lord bless you. The Lion did this for you and me.
If you’re depressed, or struggle with any aspect of mental health…
For readers from the United States….
Find a psychiatrist here.
Find a therapist here.
For readers, internationally, seek help from a local resource.
For salvation, Christ and Christ alone.
[Screencap: the empty tomb from The Passion of the Christ].
