Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 14, 2006 - THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
[Numbers 21:4B-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17][Christ Jesus] emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.]
There is a verse in the Liturgy of the Hours for Good Friday that has always struck me powerfully: Christ became obedient for us unto death! Even death on a cross! The words in that verse that hit me are FOR US and EVEN. I suspect that verse was lurking in the back of my head when I went to see that movie, THE PASSION, on Ash Wednesday in 2004 with two close friends. The only think I could think of upon leaving the theater was, "He did that for me." I suspect the idea of someone undergoing terrible suffering on our account personally would be very discomforting to many of us. It's easier to think of it in "macro" terms. He died for "the sins of all" or to "save us all." It is a different feeling from knowing that we somehow hurt someone accidentally through our negligence - not the same kind of guilt! St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that Christ did not have to save us in the way that he did, but the way he did it was more appropriate as an act of love! Is that the first thing any of us thinks on looking at a crucifix? Is it any easier if we simply look at the cross without Jesus' image on it? Do we remember Jesus' admonition about picking up our cross and following him? The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross unquestionably aims more at the broad symbolic meaning and purpose of the cross. But that meaning really depends on whether or not we are willing to accept Jesus' act of love and see the cross as an invitation and not an instrument of capital punishment! AMEN
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