“The Cross of Christ is the sacrament of the true and prophetic altar on which, through the host of salvation the offering of human nature is celebrated.” (from St. Leo the Great, Oration 55,3)

As we move closer to Holy Week we move closer to the Cross of Christ. It is a natural progression and one that is a true and joyful blessing for each of us. Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, in his book “The Passion and the Cross” remind us that at the center of the quote from St. Leo the Great, the passion and the cross are not about the physical suffering of Jesus but the transformative trust in a relationship of love with God, who is our Father.
This continues to be our passion we follow through out the 40 days of Lent in the sometimes painful and lonely growth that comes from our discipline of fasting, prayer and giving of alms. It is a moment of trust and opening our hearts to the sacrificial grace and love we are called to participate in through giving and receiving. Wonderful and beautiful thoughts…but how does it work in the world we are called to participate in as transformative disciples of love?
Okay, let’s thinks about his and break it down a little.
The Cross of Christ is a sacrament: “it is important to recognize that the Sacraments have a visible and invisible reality, a reality open to all human senses but grasped in its God-given depths with the eyes of faith.” (p 168 US Catholic Catechism for Adults) in other words, a sacrament shows a reality that is hidden. God’s love of the cross, the obedience to love on the cross is the reality that is offered, a love not hidden in darkness but on display to the whole world. We are challenged to live the same obedience to love in following the will of God in our daily life…that carrying the cross thing.
The Cross of Christ is true: It is not deceptive or a lie. It shows God’s gift of love. Bishop Robert Barron in his video series “Catholicism” states that looking on the cross of Jesus, if we truly see with the eyes of faith we see a man consumed in joyfulness because Jesus has done the will of his Father. It is the joyful obedience to follow him because it brings lasting peace.
The Cross of Christ is a prophetic altar: prophetic words change lives and the altar, in our Catholic liturgies, is were lives are changed, transformed and made new each and every Eucharistic celebration. When we choose to place our lives on the altar with Jesus, we embrace the cross and become living prophetic word sent into the world.
The Cross of Christ is salvation: forgiveness flows from the cross. We know we cannot forgive and be forgiven alone, Jesus reaches out to us from the cross and seeks to gather us as one. He speaks words of forgiveness and mercy from his pierced heart as we come and drink from his thirst for our presence with him.
Humanity is celebrated by the offering of the Cross of Christ: “I will see the image of God in everyone whom I meet. And I will love them as Jesus loves each one of us. In this is to be found the great secret of charity.” (from “Before the Altar” by Concepcion Cabrera de Armida) When we see God on the cross in this great passion of love then we are able to see our true humanity and seek out the suffering brothers and sisters in the works of mercy Jesus calls us to be and live each and every day.
It is really very simple if we begin to practice virtue daily in our lives but it is also the most difficult act of love you and I will ever participate in because it requires to the full and complete self-donation Jesus offers to us from the cross and invites us to imitate.
God Bless
Fr. Mark