The
Triumph of the Cross
Joy
J Pynadath
The Cross is the sign of
salvation, a synonym for pain, a light in suffering. The sins of all mankind
are washed clean in the living stream of mercy flowing from the Cross.
"But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where
sin increased, grace abounded all the more"(5:20).
This flood of love and salvation
flowing into the hearts of the human race, fills us with divine joy. It
is love that is the fountain of this joy. "But the free gift is not like
the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much
more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the
one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many"(Rom 5:15).
The sacrifice of the Cross
on Calvary is an oblation to bring back the children of men who have lost
the divine life and to sanctify with his mercy those who have been destroyed
by sin. When Jesus became the heavenly food for mankind through his self-immolation
on the Cross like the grain of wheat that dies to itself, it was the beginning
of a new Pentecost in the fullness of the Spirit. "Without any doubt, the
mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh vindicated in
spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout
the world, taken up in glory"(1 Tim 3:16).
At one time the cross was
a sign of intense pain, hatred, curse and destruction. But Jesus saved
the human race, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves
and take up their cross daily and follow me"(Lk 9:23).
We realize true salvation
when we accept the daily trials with joy and sacrifice ourselves on the
Calvary of this world, burning out our lives for others.
The Cross-sign of
salvation
"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"(I Cor1:18). When we are plunged in sin, we
lose everlasting good. When we die to the world of our self with its lusts
and desires and to our egoism, we realize salvation. There are several
people who once had lived in total forgetfulness of God but found him in
suffering and failure. Adversity and persecution are doors to salvation.
The Cross - sign
of forgiveness
"Father, forgive them; for
they do not know what they are doing"(Lk 23:24). It is the golden radiance
of forgiveness that we see in the Cross. The commandment of Jesus to love
one's neighbour comes to perfection in the Cross. Jesus heals the soldier
whose ear Peter cut off when he came to take him prisoner. He pours his
love on Peter who denied him thrice. He has no umbrage against the thief,
who, crucified alongside him, derided and ridiculed him. To be able to
forgive is a priceless grace. Grace increases as we forgive more and more.
War, violence and persecution are the cruel effects of acting without forgiveness.
When we forgive we receive peace and consolation.
The Cross - sign
of God's holy will
Through his self-annihilation
Christ reveals fully God's most holy will. "He emptied himself, taking
the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human
form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-even
death on a cross"(Phil 2:7-8). Jesus is fulfilling God's will by silently
suffering pain and derision. When we accept sickness, persecution, and
failure joyfully, the will of God is revealed. Nothing happens without
the will of God. "We know that all things work together for good for those
who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28). "Then
I said, 'See, God, I have come to do your will, O God'" (Heb 10:7).
The Cross - sign
of suffering
The cross bestows consolation
and hope on the suffering mind. Man is purified in the crucible of suffering
just as gold is tried in the furnace of fire. "For just as the sufferings
of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through
Christ" (2 Cor 1:5).
"But rejoice in so far as
you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout
for joy when his glory is revealed"(1 Pet 4:13).
"Though the Lord may give
you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher
will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher"(Is
30:20).
Our God is not one who is
absent in our pain and suffering and failure. He stretches out his hand
and calls us. Lifts us up on his shoulder when we fall. "Not a hair of
your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls"(Lk 21:18-19).
When we unite our sufferings
with those of Jesus on the cross, just as he rose from the dead, we rise
from the evil desires and inclinations of the flesh and become new men.
The Cross - sign
of Love
But God proves his love
for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us (cf Rom 5:8).
The Cross is a sign of love. The rays of light emanating from the cross
are the consolations of love. Here we come to know the love of a Father
who looks for and waits for his estranged children. When the prodigal son
got out of the pigsty and raised his hands towards the heavenly Father,
"while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion;
he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him"(Lk 15:20). This is the
love of Jesus. When the Son of God became a sacrificial victim for the
redemption of man this truth was realised. "We know love by this, that
he laid down his life for us- and we ought to lay down our lives for one
another" (1Jn 3:16). When we live according to the will of a God who loves
us, even if we have suffering, it is experienced only as a gateway to heavenly
glory.
The Cross - sign
of happiness
With the words, "Behold
your mother" (Jn 19:27), Jesus gave to all mankind his mother standing
at the foot of the cross with a broken heart and interceding for them.
Hanging on the cross Jesus
promised bliss to the repentant thief: "Truly I tell you, today you will
be with me in Paradise"(Lk 23:43). The sacrifice of the cross is the incomparable
experience of the revelation of the happenings that lie beyond death. It
is on the cross that the triumph of the spirit over the body is celebrated.
"In whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
of all creation" (Col 1:14-15)
When we go astray from God,
and fall into despair, thinking only of our sins, do we not blame God?
What a fate is mine! Where is God? Does he not hear? When we point our
finger at God with a hundred such complaints, remember it was through the
Cross that Jesus redeemed us. God saved us from the power of sin by sacrificing
his Son because of his unbounded love for us. We have been redeemed and
sealed by the precious blood of Jesus. Thus we are given authority over
the powers of hell. We are partakers of the body and blood of Jesus.
Through Baptism the old
man in us is crucified and we attain redemption from sin and live with
Jesus (cf Rom 6:6). Let us make our lives golden lamps and, like the wise
virgins, keep them trimmed waiting for the second coming of the Lord. Let
us not lament over the body that decays in this world; rather let us keep
awaiting the Lord with our minds on the bliss of eternal life. When Jesus,
who conquered death, lives in our hearts, the light of life will shine
in us. The divine life of the risen Christ throbs in us. When we die to
the body and are guided by the Spirit, we become transformed in his peace.
We should be able to ask
with St Paul, "Who will separate me from the love of Christ?" We are entitled
to pose this question.