We Preach Christ Crucified

Some years ago, in a previous parish where I worked, the nursery classroom of the school was being refurbished and redecorated. A couple of the staff, who were not Catholic, expressed concern that a crucifix was to hang on the wall. They thought that it would be too disturbing for the young children. As Catholic children, we grew up with the image of Christ hanging on the on the cross. Those who were concerned for the effect the crucifix would have upon the children were perhaps struck by the implications, and the reality, of this manner of torture and death.

Jesus in this weekend’s Gospel told those around him that he was destined to suffer grievously; to be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes; to be put to death and after three days to rise again. And he said all this quite openly.

Peter was having none of this talk from Jesus so he remonstrated with him. Jesus rebuked him, saying, Get behind me Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.

Jesus is saying that, if we want to follow him, then we have to renounce ourselves, take up the cross and follow him. It is very easy for us to be like Peter — to say ‘I believe that Jesus is the Christ,’ and yet to want not to know about the cross, or anything that involves suffering and death. St Paul says that we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to the Gentiles. For us, these are not just pious words. We desire, with the grace of God, to live and love in this way; ‘this way’ means renouncing myself, taking up my cross and following Jesus.

Lord help me to understand your words: For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the Gospel, will save it.

Give me the grace to put the needs of others before my own. Help me to grow in selfless love. May I be filled with the spirit of St Francis.

Lord, make me a channel of Thy peace,
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.