1 Corinthians 1:18
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.
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I still remember when a friend asked me why Catholics have this cross in the house with Jesus still on it in a state of suffering. He explained that if Jesus has already risen again, then this is not necessary.
I thought for a while but did not give any answer. Upon reaching the house, I looked at the cross again with Jesus nailed on it. And then I felt so relieved and joy in my heart as I look at Him intently. His suffering is my salvation; and so the cross without Him has no meaning at all.
Before Jesus was nailed and died on it, the cross is just a mere tool for death. It is being used to kill criminals. It is a symbol of suffering and death. You wouldn’t even dare to wear it as a pendant or display it in your house.
But everything changed. Jesus has put a different meaning to the cross. From a symbol of death, it becomes a symbol of salvation and eternal life. It is due to His death that we are all saved. And it is due to His resurrection that we came to know that He is our Lord and our God.
So a cross without Jesus is nothing. It is void of any meaning. It is just another symbol – two overlapping lines, no more, no less.
So the next time you look at the cross, you should have Jesus with it – for with Him, the cross becomes the living symbol of life with the Lord.
As St. Augustine would implore, “His whole body is displayed for your redemption. Ponder how great these things are. Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind: as he was once fixed to the cross in every part of his body for you, so he may now be fixed in every part of your soul.”
Let us pray +
That we may live in your eternal love, O Savior of our souls, we sing eternally, "Live, Jesus! Jesus is the one I love! Live, Jesus, you whom I love. I love Jesus who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen +
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
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