Lent 2026: The Easter Triduum

The Easter Triduum is the most sacred time in the Christian calendar, inviting us to walk closely with Jesus through the final days of His earthly life—his suffering, death, and resurrection.

Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday comprise the Triduum, which is considered one liturgy divided into three parts. Holy Thursday recalls the Last Supper and Jesus’ call to love and serve one another, while Good Friday draws us into the solemn remembrance of his crucifixion. Holy Saturday is a time of contemplation, until the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, when darkness becomes light and we proclaim Jesus as our resurrected Lord!

These days invite us not only to recall these events, but to enter into them—reflecting on sacrifice, love, and the depth of God’s mercy. In that spirit, one of our companions, Kya Johnson, offers a reflection on the “Seven Last Words” of Jesus—the seven statements he spoke from the cross, as recorded in the Gospels. These words reveal a powerful arc of forgiveness, relationship, anguish, and ultimate surrender.

The Seven Last Words of Jesus: A Reflection

— by Kya Johnson, Companion in Mission

Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.

Not just the polished parts of me… but the weary ones too.
The parts that showed up today, smiled, performed—
yet carried quiet storms underneath.
The parts still healing in places no one can see,
still questioning what feels unanswered,
still trying to hold together what feels like it’s slowly unraveling.

As a young woman, I have learned strength early—
the kind that doesn’t always ask for help,
the kind that keeps going even when it’s empty.
I’ve learned how to carry expectations—
from family, from community, from colleagues,
from strangers who never knew my name
but still felt entitled to define me.

And sometimes, God…
it is heavy in a way words don’t fully hold.

But as I sit with these sacred words—
words You spoke in surrender, not defeat—
I am reminded of something deeper than survival:

I was never meant to carry what heaven already claimed.

“Into Your hands…”

That is not just release—
that is return.
Return to the One who knew me before pressure touched me.
Before I learned to perform, to prove, to push past my limits.

It means I can loosen my grip
on the need to be everything for everyone
and finally be held as I am.

It means I can lay down the quiet fears I don’t speak out loud—
the uncertainty about where I’m going,
who I’m becoming,
and whether I’m enough along the way.

It means I can trust
that even when my path feels unclear,
You are not confused.
You are not absent.
You are already there.

So I commit my spirit—
not just my strength, but my softness.
Not just my faith, but my doubts.
Not just who I’ve been, but who I am becoming.

Into hands that do not tremble.
Hands that do not drop what they hold.
Hands that formed me with intention, not accident.
Hands that saw me—fully—
before I ever felt the need to prove my worth.

So when the world tries to name me—
too much, not enough, too loud, too hard, too emotional—
I remember:

I do not belong to their definitions.
I belong to You.

I am held
even when I feel like I’m falling.
I am seen
even in the parts I try to hide.
I am guided
even when I cannot see the next step.

And today…
I choose something deeper than endurance.

I choose surrender.

Not the kind that comes from giving up—
but the kind that comes from trusting fully.
The kind that says:
“I release control because I know Who holds me.”

Because there is a quiet, unshakable strength
in knowing I was never meant to do life alone.

Father, into Your hands…

I place the weight I’ve been carrying in silence.
I place the expectations that no longer serve me.
I place my fears, my questions, my unfolding.

I place the woman I am becoming—
not rushed, not forced, not perfect—
but growing, stretching, becoming whole.

And here… in Your hands—
I don’t strive.

I rest.

Kya Johnson is a compassionate and faith-driven therapist who brings warmth, humility, and authenticity into every space she enters. As a young Black woman rooted in her Catholic faith, she is deeply passionate about the Word of God and committed to walking alongside others as they navigate healing, identity, and purpose.

In addition to her clinical work, Kya is a liturgical dance instructor who uses movement as a form of worship, expression, and restoration. She believes in the power of both faith and therapy to transform lives and is dedicated to helping individuals and families grow in resilience, connection, and wholeness. If you enjoyed her reflection, you can email Kya at Breaththroughsandblessings@gmail.com.

Lent 2026: A Franciscan Journey

On January 10, 2026, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a special Jubilee Year commemorating the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death. Running through January 10, 2027, this Jubilee Year is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate St. Francis and his teachings with the Church and the world.

In honor of this special year, we’ve created a Lenten program to help us focus on St. Francis’ message of peace. Using Pope Leo XIV’s prayer to St. Francis as our guide, we’ll explore one part of the prayer each week during Lent. Instead of giving you specific daily actions, we offer a brief reflection on each week’s theme and some suggested practices to choose from—so you can engage with the theme in a way that feels right for you.

Join us this Lent by downloading a copy of our Lenten action calendar and following along: Download the Calendar (PDF format).