Approaches to the Cross of Christ

Good Friday of the Lord's Passion: March 29, 2024

Readings: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalms 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42 

Please listen to the audio recording of the homily preached in a parish: https://youtu.be/DmcuUc09akg

"Behold the wood of the Cross, on which the Salvation of the World, come, let us adore." With these very emotional words, we venerate the Cross of our Lord today.  When we think about the Cross, very quickly to our imagination comes the Cross in our Church altars, homes and in our own threads that we wear around our necks. Jesus never looked for the Cross in his life, but it came on his way. Jesus never longed for Cross but it was imposed upon him by the secular rulers of this world. So why then the Cross of our Lord has become such an awe-inspiring, symbol of our salvation in Christian religion.

1. Early symbols of Christianity 

To get deeper into the meaning and significance of the Cross, we must turn the annals of the history of Christianity. Other than the robust understanding of the importance of the Cross of our Lord Jesus in the writings of St Paul, we do not find anything much in the early years of Christianity. The early Christians who lived in fear and trembling, persecution and death even that of the Cross under Roman rule, did not use the symbol of the Cross. The early Christians used the symbol of fish or lamb as some sort of indicator for Christians. We can see them in the catacombs of Rome or in the oldest Churches like in Aquilea in Northern Italy. 

However, the story of the Cross finds its fullest expression with the Roman Emperor Constantine. When he was on the way to war, the already terribly distressed and worried emperor of his definite defeat had the vision of the Cross and he seemed to have got the confirmation that with the symbol of the Cross, he would win the war. As predicted by the vision, the emperor Constantine wins the war and later he allows Christianity to be the religion of the empire (312-313 AD, the Edict of Milan) and he embraces Christianity to the surprise of the Romans.

2. Finding the Cross in the Holy Land

In fact, we must not forget St Helen, the mother of emperor Constantine, who went to the Holy Land, excavated and found the traces of the Cross of our Lord. Since then Cross has become not only just a symbol of Christianity but also an instrument for the soul to reach heaven. A Christian embraces the Cross with love and devotion. In the Cross, he or she finds the perfect expression of his or her faith-filled embrace of Christ as the eternal way to salvation. Christians down the centuries have approached the Cross of Christ in various ways. So that it matches the interests and ambitions of the Christian faithful, it could be the Cross of St Thomas or St Andrew or St Patrick or St Francis of Assisi, each one with a different shape and structure. 

Down the centuries, Christians have approached the cross in diverse ways and found meaning in it. Each Christian has his or her own way of approaching the Cross. Often it is very easy for people to approach Cross in times of suffering. In one's suffering, the suffering of our Lord on the cross becomes very much real and easy to partake in it. That is why often we say, "it's a cross for me" "I'll have to carry the cross for the rest of my life" etc. In the darkest moments of our lives when we can fix our gaze on the Cross, everything becomes easier to accept. In our suffering, we try to assimilate our sufferings with the sufferings of Christ on the cross. We find it easier to correlate what Jesus went through. 

3. Long loving look at the Cross

Another way of approaching the Cross of Christ in our life is with a long loving look. It is a look with love and compassion, mercy and forgiveness. Such a way of approach is prayer. We contemplate the mystery of the cross of our Lord and how it made a difference for us by dying on it. It is a look at the cross that I too want to become part of the cross and ready to carry the cross in my daily life. The long and loving look of the cross has led to men and women of our faith to embark on challenging journies for the sake of Christ. 

They have taken up ventures and works, that others would not like to take up. It may be fighting for justice, peace and reconciliation, it might be working in far away and remote villages educating the people and helping to build their lives through skilling them, it may be going to another country or place to preach the good news of our Lord as a result learn new languages, eat different food, get adjusted to different surroundings, weather, etc.  It may be also giving one's best in whatever they do for the sake of our Lord and his name be glorified thus giving up one's comforts, the cozy environments, working with battered women and their children, running the hospitals and orphanages, visiting the prisoners, comforting the lonely, widows and those who are thrown out of society, etc. The list can go endless.

4. My approach to the Cross

How do I approach the cross of Christ in my life? Does it make any difference in my life other than placing it around my chest with a thread or golden or metal chain? How do I look at the Cross of Christ when suffering, undesired things happen in my life or family or community? 

Jesus accepted the Cross with love and warmth. He did not carry the cross out of anger or frustration. He accepted the cross with a purpose and mission. He did not accept the cross with revenge and timidity. As the cross approached Jesus, he accepted in loving service to humanity. Certainly, God would have saved the world and its humanity even without the Cross if He willed. But God allowed the cross which is made of wood to become the symbol of our salvation. In the words of St Paul, (1 Corinthians 1:18) “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” In the cross lies the power of God. It heals. It liberates. It captures the imagination of everything. It wins. It brings salvation. It takes to God. It gives the heaven. It makes us to sit with angels and other saints. It makes us to feel with one another of the same faith. It crosses the boundaries and differences. It makes us one with Christ. 

- Olvin Veigas, SJ
Good Friday, 2024

March 29, 2024