August 13, 2022

Reflection

THE  CROSS

The cross is the visible symbol for Christians.

It's a good one - visible for miles when on top of a church - and visible up close on the wall of a bedroom or inside a church.

4 points: North, East, South, West.

2 roads that intersect - and at each intersection we can go 3 ways - and even a 4th way - if we want to go back.

The Cross: Catholics put a figure of Christ on it - usually the suffering Christ - but sometimes it's the Risen Christ. Protestants often keep the cross body free - sometimes making the narrative: He is Risen.

Crosses: we see them everywhere - in cemeteries, above churches, around necks.

Crosses: we make the sign of the cross upon entering and leaving a church - and at different times during our ceremonies. We ask Christ to strengthen our minds, our shoulders and our gut.

Crosses - so basic - wood nailed together - to build a table or a chair -but also to make something for the purpose of execution.

The Cross: did Christ know if he went to Jerusalem, they would crucify him there?

Could he have stayed up north and not go south to Jerusalem?

Why risks dying at 33?

The cross challenges us to decide what we stand for - what we proclaim - even if that means we will be crucified.

The cross challenges us to think about why people  would want Christ out of the way.

Why would we want Christ out of the way?

There are people who drive us crazy.

There are people we describe as "Bad!" and we want them out of the way. We want them to disappear.

There are people who are so "Good!" and we also  want them out of the way.

Christ is the Way. 

Christ's way is the Way of the Cross.  

Too often we   are  asking, "Is there another way to do all this?"