THE CROSS

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my reflection for this 5th Tuesday in Lent is basic: The Cross: What Does It Mean To Me?

The cross: what does it mean to me?

I was in Ahh Coffee! with Bernie Bernsten on Sunday after the 10:30 Mass and I noticed a lady with a tattoo of a cross right here under her Eve’s apple [POINT]. It looked like it was 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. I had the thought it would look interesting in an evening gown.

The cross: what did it mean to her?

On Saturday night I went to see the musical, The Sound of Music, presented by St. Mary’s high school students. It was excellent. There was Maria on stage – kneeling in prayer – having to make a major decision in her life – and she makes the sign of the cross.

The cross: what did it mean for her and for this young lady playing her part in a high school play?

I blessed a couple with the sign of the cross at their wedding on Saturday afternoon here at St. Mary’s and they made the sign of the cross as I blessed them.

The cross: what does the cross mean to them?

I did a baptism on Saturday morning. I asked everyone present – including grandparents and about 5 cousins – as well as other members of family and friends – to make a small sign of the cross on the forehead of the new baby, Anna. Having everyone do that takes about 5 minutes extra – but I think it’s important. I said this is symbol of the good things – like faith – to pass onto this new born baby.

The cross: what does it mean to those who put the cross on this new baby Anna’s forehead at her baptism?

On Friday of next week, Good Friday, Christians around the world will see the cross carried down the main aisle of the church. They see the priest or deacon carrying the large cross – stop 3 times and sing, “This is the wood of the cross on which hung the Savior of the world. Come let us worship.” Then the whole church will be invited to come forward to kiss the cross.

The cross: what will it mean to all of us this coming week at the Good Friday service.

Last night at the parish mission, Father Daniel Francis, who is preaching the Mission, turned and faced the enormous cross at St. John Neumann’s church. I often wonder what strangers think when they see that enormous cross out there. What about the big empty wooden cross there and here? What about the big wooden cross in the back of St. Mary’s Church here on Duke of Gloucester Street? I’ve heard this in sermons, but it finally happened to me about two months ago. After Mass here in St. Mary’s a little kid came up to me and pointed to the big crucifix in the back and said, “What happened?”

The cross: what does it mean to all those who see these crosses?

Today’s first reading has the story in the Book of Numbers where Moses puts a bronze sculpted metal snake on a wooden pole. He tells the people to look at the snake and see that this is what’s killing you and let the Lord save you. Then today’s gospel – John 8: 21- 30 - has Jesus telling us that when the Son of Man is lifted up; we will realize that I AM. John is very aware of the story in Numbers because he refers to it earlier in 3:13

The cross: what does it mean to John in his gospel?

Is the message to look at the cross and realize Jesus is the one who can save us? Is the message to look at Jesus on the cross and see the horror of evil – the things we do to each other. We try to nail down those we don’t want around. We kill those who challenge us. People see Christ as a snake biting and fighting them – and they want him out of the way. Is the message in the scriptures to see the paradox of the snake as well as the paradox of the Cross? Is it the same paradox of all of us having within us the possibility of being the Good Thief or the Bad Thief? Is the message of the gospels that if we take the time to look at the cross – we can be healed – we can hear Jesus say, “I AM!”

The cross: what does it mean to us?