Oh The Cross

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthian 1:18

As Catholics we gaze upon the cross and feel a mixed sense of shame and of being uplifted. Today as I speak to many brothers and sisters on the Road of Faith I hear also a sense of fear.

It boggles our minds that God would use such a horrible thing to bring about our salvation. I can’t understand no matter how hard I try, why God would allow such a brutal death as crucifixion to fall upon His Son.

As brutal as the cross is, the Romans held that the punishment fit the crime. The most vile criminals died the most vile form of death the Romans could think of – crucifixion upon the cross. This is no merciful death. It is brutal in its cruelty. But, we know Jesus was without sin. Even Pilate didn’t find fault in Jesus. So where was the crime to fit this punishment?

The Lord took upon His shoulders the crime of the world’s sins. Our sins, my sins. When I meditate upon the crucifix, I am brought to tears by this scandal of the cross. That the Sinless Son of God would hang there facing punishment deserved upon me. The Just God saw this scandal as well but before His anger could stir, Jesus called out to placate this anger – “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” Luke 23:34

“The Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze” Numbers 21:8-9.

Jesus told St. Faustina to meditate often upon His passion – “There is more merit to one hour of meditation on My sorrowful Passion than there is to a whole year of flagellation that draws blood.” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 369.

In God’s Divine Mercy we are given a remedy for our sins and failings. “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14-15. He gives us the cross to see the effects of our sins, the cross to view as healing for those same sins. The cross is a nasty object for us to revere but it is through Divine Mercy our symbol of hope.

Starting today I ask all those on The Road of Faith to let that road lead them to Calvary. Gaze upon a crucifix and ask God’s Divine Mercy to flow over your soul and mind to wash your free of all your sinfulness and guilt. Gaze upon this and be healed as the Israelites were healed from the death of the seraph serpents. let the life giving mercy of God flow through His pierced heart and heal you of sin’s poison.

“Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” Luke 23:42