Embracing the Cross and the Joy of Easter, by Shaun McAfee

By Shaun McAfee, Catholic Exchange, April 22, 2025

Shaun McAfee was raised Protestant but at 24, he experienced a profound conversion to the Catholic Church with the writings of James Cardinal Gibbons and modern apologists. He is the author of Filling Our Father’s House (Sophia Institute Press), among other books, and holds a Masters in Dogmatic Theology. …

In the heart of the Catholic Faith lies a paradox so profound it can only be understood through the eyes of faith: the juxtaposition of the agony of the Cross and the overwhelming joy of the Resurrection. For Catholics, Holy Week and Easter form the spiritual core of the liturgical year. It is in this sacred rhythm of death and resurrection, sorrow and rejoicing, that we come to understand not just Christ’s mission, but our own path to redemption.

The Terror and Tragedy of the Cross

Good Friday brings us face-to-face with suffering—raw, brutal, and unjust. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is not merely a historical event; it is a divine drama of love and sacrifice. We see the sinless Son of God betrayed, mocked, scourged, and ultimately nailed to a cross. There is no beauty in this death by worldly standards. It is gruesome and humiliating—a punishment reserved for the worst of criminals. …