Fra Angelico painted many crucifixion scenes, but one is especially curious. For Fiesole’s Convent of San Domenico, Fra Angelico depicts the crucified Christ smiling. His wounds are bloodless, and even Mary gives the viewer a gentle grin. The Angelic Brother has revealed something profound: Amid life’s troubles, Hope wears a mischievous smile.
If you’re looking for a fruitful Lent take a lesson from Hope and learn to grin. You can start with today’s ashes. We’re marked with the sign of the cross, a reminder of death. But ashes can trigger an unexpected response. Seeing strangers with ashes smeared on their foreheads or even catching ourselves in the mirror, it can be hard not to grin. Lean into it.
Hope does not ignore death and despair, yet it smirks. It sees the marks of our mortality in the light of eternity. Without denying the reality of the tears, Hope sees past them. While the world promises that this too shall last, the Lord laughs our troubles to scorn, inviting us to laugh with him (see Ps 2).
Saint Peter demands that his flock rejoice amid life’s trials. He asks Christ’s followers to stand ready to defend their folly. But Christ and his Church do not demand the impossible. If Hope is the reason to smile in the face of death, we need to give a reason for our Hope (1 Pet 3:14–16).
So during this Lent in our Jubilee of Hope, give up fear and learn to grin. Give up despair and cling to Christ. Share the reason for your joy: Christ has conquered the grave, and the trials of this life are for our salvation. Give people a real reason to grin.
To get you started Dominicana will be offering a series of essays on Hope. Throughout Lent, the brothers will provide meditations on Hope, the trials that test it, and the reason to keep it.
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Image: Fra Angelico, Crucifixion with Mourners and St Dominic (detail)
