The Power of the Cross

“Pride sets subtle snares. Whenever we imagine that we are in control of life-our own or someone else’s- we have fallen prey to the ancient whisper in the Garden: ‘You shall be like gods.’ Mortality is the enduring reminder that we become like God not by our own power but by the power of the cross.”  ~ Magnificat

Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Many Protestants don’t understand why we Catholics display the crucifix. They object to the crucifix because it depicts Christ dying on the cross. They think we are emphasizing his death. The purpose of Christ’s Incarnation was his death on the cross. “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” (John 18:37) Christ died on the cross as atonement for our sins. His resurrection was proof that what he did on the cross was fulfilled, he conquered death. And it demonstrated beyond any doubt that he was who he claimed to be, he was God. By his death on the cross, Jesus redeemed the world, opened the way of salvation for all who would accept this gift and reconciled his people with the Father. When I look at a crucifix I see love.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

It is only by the cross that we have the hope for eternal life. It is only because God loved us so much that we will be free from death. God loves us so much that he sent his only son to die for us. We have been redeemed. But we have to open our hearts and accept this gift. Let us embrace the Cross upon which our Savior died for us and take up the cross that is placed before us. True resurrection and glory await all those who follow Christ faithfully, but we will only arrive there by traveling the way of the cross.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.