THE LANGUAGE OF THE CROSS Many of us have crucifixes hanging on the walls of our homes. Some move around with them either attached to their Rosaries or as chains on their necks. I wonder how often we do allow the crucifix to speak to us. In one of his tweets last week, Pope Francis declared: “How beautiful it is to stand before the Crucifix, simply to be under the Lord’s gaze, so full of love”. The first reading for the service of today from Isaiah, gives a good picture of how Jesus would have really looked like (Is 52:13-53:12). Imagine the torture he went through, totally looking helpless in the face of betrayal amongst the twelve, captured and thrown into the dungeon in the High Priest Palace, taken from one court to the other for a trail that was just a gimmick of a show. Imagine the ruthlessness of the scourging at the pillar, the crowning with thorns and the mockery that followed. Imagine the public journey to Cavalry, the shame to almost remain naked in front of all and seeing his own clothes being balloted for. Imagine the disgrace, hanging on the cross with all those cheeky statements coming from any Dick, Tom or Harry! Imagine God obeying Pilate, his creature, allowing himself to go through all these (moreover an unjust condemnation and death), though he could have asked his Father to send His army of angels to defend him; God taking slaps and mockery from his creatures. The reproaches during the veneration of the Cross say it all. For all the good He had done for his people, he receives but lashes, a crown of thorns and a cross; He is even denied him water. Despite all of these, He remains in control and is very calm. When he speaks, the authorities are confused. When he remains silent, they are still confused. From Passion stories, we find an unusual being - no anger, no harsh words, no bitterness is seen. Instead he gives gifts to men and pities them: to his mother, assurance; to Veronica, the image of his face; to his mother, St John and vice versa; to the repentant thief, the promise of heaven; to his persecutors, forgiveness; and finally, to the soldier who pierces him, the gift of faith. How can one, after such torments and horrible treatment, do this? So each time I look at the crucifix, I am re-energized to go on doing going, strengthened to face my difficulties. I end up uttering each time, ‘Lord, it is better I go through what I am undergoing than to face any of the public disgrace You went through.’ The Cross heals for those who have time to listen. That is what we are celebrating today… Allowing the Crucifix to speak to us, to heal us from our bitterness and anger!!! So the liturgy today is engulfed in silence and with music that touches the core of our hearts. Yes, the heart of Christianity is found in Beatitudes and its explanations given by Jesus in Matthew chapters 5-7. The teaching is meant to make us perfect as God is perfect (Mt 5:48) or merciful or compassionate as God is merciful or compassionate (Lk 6:30) or holy as God is holy (Lev. 19:2).This is what should distinguish us from other religions! All praying, going to church, joining church group, vigils, pilgrimages and whatever spiritual activity one does without this attitude of Jesus can be a waste of time. We read in the Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 2608: “From the Sermon on the Mount onwards, Jesus insists on conversion of the heart; reconciliation with one’s brother before presenting an offering on the altar, love of enemies and prayer for persecutors, prayer to the Father in secret, not heaping up empty phrases, prayerful forgiveness from the depths of the heart, purity of heart and seeking the Kingdom before all else. This conversion is entirely directed to the Father.” And in no. 2611 it continues: “The prayer of faith consists not only in saying: ‘Lord, Lord’, but in disposing the heart to do the will of the Father. Jesus calls us his disciples to bring into their prayer this concern for cooperating with the divine plan.” God does not bring about his kingdom as we pray in the “Our Father” by shouting or raising his voice or making loud speeches in the streets (Isaiah 42:1-4). The only way he uses to defeat the evil one is by taking his torments without retaliating with the same methods. He retaliates with love, silence, truth, total forgiveness and a welcoming embrace as we see in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32). So he teaches us to learn from Him for he is meek or gentle and humble of heart, and then, we will find rest for our souls (Mt 11:29). We see the first Christians in the Acts of the Apostles following this same spirit of Jesus, the first being Stephen. This is God’s own way to build his Kingdom, to reconcile mankind and bring about its wholeness or oneness as we read in his priestly prayer in John 17. All our Christian formation, no matter the faith, should be aimed at helping us form the heart so that we can, like Christ, conquer evil with good (Romans 12:21). The temptation of remaining at the level of a shallow and protective Christianity is very easy: looking for anointing oils, anointing water or holy water (which some people drink, cook with and wash with), making altars upon altars with all types of pictures and effigies, having sleepless nights doing all types of fasting and prayers. These are good if only they will help us have the heart of God or to become holy, perfect or compassionate as God is. Jesus promised a cross to all his followers as we read in Lk.14:27, Mt.10:28 and Mt.16:24. We cannot avoid what has been ordained. Our Christian maturity will therefore show itself in carrying our respective crosses and still behaving like Jesus. We adore you O Christ and we praise you. Because by your holy cross Thou has redeemed the world!
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:06:17 +0000
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