Introduction

The cross is central.
The cross is paradoxical.
The cross is mystery.
The cross is essential.

The images of the cross in your life

On Ash Wednesday, I suggested that each of us look at the crosses in our life. Several people mentioned their experiences in doing so.

How we think about the cross tells us lots about how we think about human life and about ourselves. There is no right way. There are many, many ways! The invitation of these Sunday reflections is to do some self-reflection in light of the Cross.

Today, I invite you to think about the images, the constructs, the metaphors, the words you use when you think or speak about the reality of the cross. Remember that each of the ones I mention and those which you might add are each a piece of the whole…..

What are some ways that we might be thinking about the cross?

a. Do you think of the cross as the payment that needed to be made (the ransom that needed to be paid in order for human beings to be freed) in order for us to be in right relation with ourselves, our world, our God?

b. Or perhaps as a scapegoat image (the Jewish Yom Kippur ritual in which the sins of the past year are “loaded” onto a goat to be sent into the desert to die. As Christ taking on all the sins of humankind and leaving us free and good and clean?

c. Do you think of Jesus’ death as a verdict in a court room that gave an acquittal to all humanity - Paul’s “justification” analysis in today’s second reading?

d. …or perhaps as if Jesus were a martyr who died for the sake of the greater good…? In our time we know well that image in the person of Oscar Romero who said I will not die; I will live on in the people….

e. So you think of Jesus as an image of self-giving and costly love of one person for another

f. …or perhaps you think of the cross as an occurrence in human history that was “meant to be" in obedience to the Father (Jesus was obedient, even unto death)? The fulfillment of salvation history?

g. On the other hand you might see the Cross as the result of the kind of life Jesus chose to live… Jesus did confront corruption and challenged authority and was always getting himself into trouble of some kind. Now wonder his life ended on the cross?

h. …or perhaps you see the cross as a kind of birthing into a new life, a portal (John’s gospel images are vivid symbols of this)

i. Do you think of it as the only means that could restore humanity to a former glory

j. ….or perhaps you, as the people of Latin America, see the cross as a symbol of hope?

k. …or as so many spiritual writers, do you see it as a symbol of the reality of suffering in our human life?

These ways of thinking about the cross are countless and they are not necessarily mutually exclusive. The cross is a rich image and powerful reality in our Christian lives.

What we say of Jesus passion reflects how we understand God’s involvement in our own suffering. (Reid)

What we say about the cross reflects our own self – understanding!!!!

Conclusion – This coming week let us consider how we do interpret the cross and weave that insight into our own self-reflection.