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How to prayerfully surrender before the cross during Lent

In a video reflection, Bishop Gerard encourages us to reflect deeply on the cross during Lent, not merely as a symbol but as a transformative way of life that demands daily surrender to Christ.

Pointing to his pectoral cross – which he received on 2 February at his episcopal ordination – Bishop Gerard said:

“I wonder how many of you are wearing crucifixes at the moment. I'm getting used to wearing one like this. Quite large and quite visible for people. It's making me think about the cross. Not only as a symbol, but as a way of life”.

Bishop Gerard explained that the reason “the cross isn't just a sign or even a symbol” is because it is “the cause and the origins, the fount of our salvation”. That is why, he said, we need to look to Jesus and imitate his loving surrender on the cross.

"It is his loving surrender that we are called to imitate and prayerfully contemplate and give thanks for, especially during Lent” 

Drawing on Jesus's words in the Gospels, "whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it" (Matt 16:25), Bishop Gerard emphasises that Christians are called to respond to Christ's demand to give up our earthly lives and be crucified with him. Echoing St Paul, he reminds us: "it is no longer I who live, but Christ, who lives in me” (Gal 2:20).

Bishop Gerard clarifies that Jesus is not calling us to seek out martyrdom or choose suffering arbitrarily. "Going round, choosing things to do can often be masochism. And that's not what the Gospel calls us to do. It doesn't bear fruit," he says. Instead, we are called to prayerful surrender, which means letting go of self-will, convenience, and our own ideas about how things should be.

Stressing the importance of holding the cross and resurrection together, Bishop Gerard said:

"when we willingly, generously, lovingly take on the cross, that's the point at which the resurrection can begin to seep into our lives little by little."

This Lent, Bishop Gerard encourages us to spend time in prayerful surrender before the cross, trusting that the Lord Jesus will give the gift of courage and fortitude needed to bear witness to his cross through daily living.

Bishop Gerard’s reflection is part of the Archdiocese’s campaign to encourage praying before the cross this Lent. Archbishop John Wilson also issued a reflection on the distressing majesty of the cross.

Throughout Lent, alongside Archbishop John and Bishop Gerard’s Lenten messages, the Archdiocese of Southwark will publish prayers and reflections to help you contemplate the cross and give thanks to the Lord Jesus for his redeeming sacrifice. You can find the prayers and reflections across our social media channels, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

You can also join Archbishop John in praying the Romero Rosary before a cross at the National Shrine of St Oscar Romero at St George’s Cathedral at 5pm on Friday 6 March and Friday 27 March.