Reflections

Friday, August 26, 2017

For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but for those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
(1 Corinthians 1:22-24)

Lord, the mystery of your salvation through the Crucifixion makes no sense in the physical context. A Jewish friend once asked me why there is a Corpus on the crosses we Catholics exhibit. An empty cross could be a symbol of your Resurrection, but why do we dwell on the atrocities of your passion and death? I don’t remember what I told her, but as you show yourself in my life, I see more and more clearly that it is your death that redeems us, and your rising confirms our redemption.

While meditating on the Crucifixion, I realized that you fulfilled your promise at a time when you were immobile, barely able even to breathe. From the cross, you gave us your mother, you confirmed that the thief who acknowledged you would be with you in Paradise, and you paid the ransom for our sins. When we are old and/or infirm, we often feel useless if we rely on ourselves. Instead, teach us to rely on you, as you relied on the Father to accomplish the divine plan. Thy will be done.

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