The Way of Jesus: The Descending Path
As we approach Holy Week, a time in the Christian calendar that calls us to reflect deeply on the central events of Jesus’ life, it offers us an opportunity to meditate on the meaning of the cross and its profound relevance to our spiritual lives today. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday each highlight aspects of this “descending path”—a path that calls us to embrace the world’s pain and suffering, not avoid it, and to find resurrection and transformation through that embrace.
Ken Wilber, a well-known philosopher, makes an interesting distinction between two kinds of spiritual paths: ascending and descending.
· The ascending path is about transcending or rising above the world. It’s the search for enlightenment, liberation, or escape from suffering—often found in practices that seek to lift the soul above earthly concerns.
· The descending path, on the other hand, invites us to go into the world’s pain and suffering. It’s about embracing life as it is, including all of its challenges and hardships, and finding meaning and spiritual depth through that embrace. It’s not a path away from the world, but a path into the heart of it.
For Christians, the cross is the ultimate symbol of this descending path. It represents Jesus’ willingness to enter fully into human suffering—to bear the weight of the world’s pain, injustice, and brokenness. Jesus’ journey during Holy Week is the most powerful example of this path. From the intimate moment of sharing a meal with His disciples on Maundy Thursday, to His arrest and crucifixion on Good Friday, Jesus shows us that the path to resurrection and life comes through the willingness to descend into suffering.
When Jesus says, “Whoever loses their life will find it,” He’s speaking of this deep spiritual truth: true life comes not from escaping the world, but from fully engaging with it. The cross shows us that embracing suffering is not only part of the human experience, but also a way to connect more deeply with God and with each other. As we remember these pivotal events during Holy Week, we are invited to reflect on how we, too, might live this path.
One of the most powerful ways we can walk the descending path is through prayer and spiritual practice. Prayer isn’t just about asking for things or seeking comfort; it’s a way to connect deeply with God in both our joys and our pain.
As we enter into the observances of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we are invited to reflect on how prayer allows us to embrace God’s presence in our own suffering. Prayer opens our hearts to the suffering of others, just as Jesus embraced His own suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. Through contemplative prayer and moments of stillness, we come to realize that true spiritual growth doesn’t come from avoiding suffering, but from embracing it, transforming it, and allowing God to work through it.
The descending path is not just a theological concept; it has real, practical implications for how we live day-to-day. Here are a few ways we can embody this path, particularly as we walk through Holy Week:
· Compassionate action: Engaging with the world’s pain—whether it’s injustice, personal suffering, or global issues—by showing love and care for others, just as Jesus showed compassion to His followers and those in need.
· Prayerful presence: Being present with others in their pain, just as Jesus was present with us in His suffering. This can mean simply listening, offering support, or showing up when someone is hurting.
· Embracing our own challenges: Understanding that growth often comes through struggle. By inviting God into our own suffering, we allow God to transform it and help us grow spiritually through the experience. This is especially meaningful as we reflect on Jesus’ own suffering and ultimate resurrection.
As we enter into Holy Week with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, we are reminded that the descending path is the way of Jesus. It’s a path that leads through suffering but also into resurrection. The cross, which symbolizes Jesus’ radical love and identification with our pain, shows us that spiritual life doesn’t come from avoiding the world’s brokenness, but from entering into it, fully present, with love and compassion. Through prayer, compassionate action, and a willingness to embrace the pain of the world, we walk the same path that Jesus walked—transforming suffering into grace and resurrection.