22nd Sunday (A) 3 September 2023 The Cross
The Cross is the most identifiable symbol of Christianity. It may seem a strange choice from an advertising point of view.
In advertising the idea is to put something appealing before the public and they will be convinced enough to part with their money and take the proposed product.
In the Church we seek ‘customers’, or ‘members’. We do this more for their sake than our own, but nevertheless we do want to attract them.
So we put crucifixes everywhere, highlighting that one of the central elements of our faith is Suffering!
We do not have, for example, an image of the Resurrection, at least not one so identifiable.
The happiness is coming, but not all at once. We have a lot to learn before we are ready for the fullness of the happiness we will find in Heaven.
We have to take up the cross first, and only then do we discover the formula for happiness.
Taking up the cross means that we are prepared to suffer if thereby we can bring about a greater good.
For instance, a disciple lays down his life attempting to bring the Gospel to a new destination. He loses his life but gains it in Heaven. And his work in evangelising will help other people to find eternal life.
But most of all it is the Cross of Christ that has been the greatest sacrifice and brought about the greatest good. The Cross was necessary to put the human race back on track.
It was not sufficient for Our Lord just to give inspiring teaching and to work miracles. These achieved a lot but more was needed – there had to be Sacrifice.
To the devil: do your worst and I will show you I can triumph over you. He proved he could absorb that punishment. He was saying in effect: I can love more than you can hate.
His focus at all times was on how much good He could do us. He was not concerned for Himself. It was an act of perfect love. And it was worth it. He succeeded in what He set out to do.
His sacrifice has atoned for the sin of the world and given us all a new chance to live.
We come to life by receiving the mercy He offers us, and resolving to live according to His will.
He saves us by transforming us into copies of Himself. We are challenged to do as He did; to lay down our lives for others. Not on such a dramatic scale, but at least in principle to make ourselves vulnerable; willing to suffer whatever is necessary in God’s plans.
It is a strange way to set about solving a problem - to surrender one’s life!
Normally we would think of death as the most unlikely way to
make progress.
To begin by saying, Here I am; you can kill me if you want – seems a strange approach.
Yet it worked. The love Jesus showed by giving up His life was so strong as to atone for all the sins of all time. It was a perfect sacrifice.
It looks like weakness but it is actually great strength. It is in this way that we use the Crucifix as a symbol of our faith. We are strong if we carry that Cross.
There is suffering yes, but a lot more besides. We can see the Cross as a doorway that, once opened, leads to a much better place, a world redeemed.
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