This and That:
Embracing the Cross of Christ
Our third Lenten Family Friday was entitled “Embracing the Cross of Christ.” This is the third of our six-week series on “Walking in the Footsteps of Saint Paul.”
What is the meaning of the Cross?
The cross has been the primary Christian symbol from the earliest times until and including our time. A Christian is often identified by the cross or crucifix that they wear. As Catholics, all of our formal prayer begins and ends with the sign of the cross. What does that cross represent for us? It represents the central mystery of our faith in Jesus Christ – that we are saved through his death and resurrection. We call this the Paschal Mystery.
Saint Paul Preaches the Cross
Our Lenten series is exploring the spirituality and teaching of Saint Paul. When he preached, Paul was conscious that there were two prominent world views during his time – the view of the Jews and the view of the Greeks.
For the Jews, the Cross is a stumbling block, because they would have preferred that the Messiah was represented by a sign of power, not a sign of humiliation. For the Greeks, the Cross is foolishness, because they would have preferred a wise philosophical presentation to convince them intellectually that Jesus was Lord.
Centrality of the Cross
Paul insists that both Jew and Greek are called to follow Christ crucified (1 Cor 1: 22-24). For Paul, the cross is a paradoxical sign representing victory over loss, strength from transformed weakness and triumph over tragedy. Christ is the power (Jews) of God and the wisdom (Greeks) of God.
Cross = Symbol of Suffering
For the past two thousand years, the Cross of Christ has been the symbol that helps Christians understand suffering. Suffering is a part of every human life.
Some suffering is CHOSEN – we will it. For example, the suffering involved in parenting and making sacrifices for one’s children, or the sacrifice involved in working for a cause. Some suffering is not chosen, it just happens to us, such as illness, accidents, disasters, economic troubles or strained relationships.
Saint Paul’s Suffering
Paul recounts the troubles he has experienced in his ministry (2 Cor 11:22-33): toil and labor, floggings, beatings, stoning, imprisonment, shipwrecks and anxiety for the churches, e.g. in-fighting, lack of funds and heresies.
Paul’s Understanding of the Cross in our Lives
Saint Paul talks about both the EXPERIENCE of the Cross and the RESULTS of the Cross for Christians. The experience of the Cross includes the following understandings:
• When I am weak – then I am strong
• Identification with Jesus
• Service as suffering – for the sake of others
The results of the Cross include:
• Leads to glory – Resurrection
• Sign of true discipleship – which has a cost
How am I to suffer as a Christian?
For us as Christians, our suffering takes on meaning as we do the following:
• Unite our suffering with the suffering of Jesus
• Declare that God is with me in my suffering
• Be compassionate to others who are suffering
• Proclaim my belief in the Resurrection
Models for Moving from Death to Life
In our Catholic tradition, we have wonderful models of people who have moved from death to life in their own experience, starting with Jesus Christ himself. Our other models include Saint Paul, the Martyrs, the Saints, current public heroes, e.g. Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, “911” heroes and people we know personally.
What About Us?
How do we find meaning in our own suffering in light of the Cross of Christ? First, by uniting of this suffering with Jesus’ suffering. It’s not enough to admire Jesus for his suffering, we need to unite our particular suffering with his in order to find meaning. Secondly, we need to answer “YES” to his call – “Take up your cross and follow Me.” Lent is the perfect time to focus on this.
In conclusion, we need to know that we never suffer alone. Jesus Christ is with us as the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Blessings,
Sister Mary Therese
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