SIGNS OF THE TIMES

  

Great excitement! A  few years ago an Anglo-Saxon burial ground was discovered in Cambridgeshire.  Why the fuss?  Because a grave contained what could well have been the earliest Christian remains to be found in England. The deceased was thought to have been a sixteen year old girl of noble birth, possibly a princess.  She died some 1,400 years ago.  And why was she thought to be a Christian?  Because she was buried holding a cross in her hands.  That cross was a clear, unmistakable sign that she had been a follower of the crucified and risen Christ, and had placed her hope of eternal happiness in Him. And these were surely the sentiments of those responsible for her burial!  An object close to her heart in life was placed close to hear heart in death!

  Much more recently, when our mother died, my brother Peter’s crucifix, given him as a First Communion present, was placed in her coffin.  That simple gesture expressed their deep shared faith in the crucified and risen Lord. This cross and actual gesture of placing this family treasure spoke beyond the grave and the separation caused by her death, to their hope of being re-united in God’s eternal happiness. 

 For them and for Christians throughout the ages the cross was the sign of our salvation, and remains so for Christians throughout the world, even to this day.  The cross denotes our identity as followers of Christ crucified.  That was true of the teenage girl buried some 1,400 years ago; that is true of Christians today.  For all of us the cross is a visible, silent witness to our faith.  We wear it with pride, but not with aggressive arrogance.  

For us the cross is the sign by which we have been saved.   If we want proof of God’s love and concern for us, we don’t need special visions and revelations.   Look at the cross; that’s the only sign we need.     In fact Jesus was exasperated with those who were forever seeking signs!  That showed a lack of faith in Him.  We shouldn’t be constantly putting Him to the test by asking Him to prove Himself.  That’s what the devil did when he tempted Jesus in the desert. We shouldn’t behave like the devil!

But sadly, for many the cross means little or nothing. For others the cross can be an uncomfortable reminder of the way the crucified Christ challenges our secular way of thinking and behaving. Others find the cross either ridiculous or offensive.  I’m always amused and confused when a boxer makes the sign of the cross as he steps in the ring.  He then proceeds to knock the living day-light out of his oponent!   Sadly, in so-called Christian countries, believers have been denied the right to wear a visible cross at the work-place.  It’s feared the cross might offend non-believers.  Strangely they don’t seem to object, nor do they find offensive the Nativity being portrayed in civic Christmas decorations or on postage stamps. 

But sadly, for many the cross means little or nothing. For others the cross can be an uncomfortable reminder of the way the crucified Christ challenges our secular way of thinking and behaving. Others find the cross either ridiculous or offensive.  I’m always amused and confused when a boxer makes the sign of the cross as he steps in the ring.  He then proceeds to knock the living day-light out of his opponent!   Sadly, in so-called Christian countries, believers have been denied the right to wear a visible cross at the work-place.  It’s feared the cross might offend non-believers.  Strangely they don’t seem to object, nor do they find offensive the Nativity being portrayed in civic Christmas decorations or on postage stamps.

  There’s a danger of the minority of the so-called ‘politically correct’ projecting their views onto others, and forcing the rest  of us to conform.  Anyway, we Christians are called to give public witness to our faith, not to hide it.  Wearing a cross makes clear what we believe, without our forcing our faith upon anyone.   

 And as we look upon the cross we discover its meaning.  We see an image of the Son of God made man.  Far from being a criminal, He was completely innocent.  Although despised and rejected as a failure He was enthroned there on the cross as the triumphant victor over sin and death. He confronted evil and conquered it, not by force of arms, but by the power of His goodness and love. 

As Jesus hung upon the cross it was as though, as man, He stretched out one hand to His heavenly Father, and as God, He reached out with the other hand to us sinners. His love has drawn God and man together in His crucified person. He has made our peace with God through His death on the cross. 

In Christ’s crucifixion we see the triumph of love over malice, goodness over evil, life over death. God has used the horrific instrument of execution –the cross –to achieve His purpose –the salvation of the world. This will seem madness to non-believers, but for us it is the wisdom of God, which defies human logic.  In the crucified Christ we see the sublime folly, the extravagance, of God's love for us.

 But to those who are scandalized by our professing our faith in the crucified Christ, or simply think we are mad, St. Paul replies, “Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength,” (1 Cor. 1. 22-25).

 Let us not allow the expression of our faith be driven underground, but wear a cross and witness to it with pride.   With St. Paul let us proclaim, “May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world,”  (Gal 6. 14). Again, with Paul, let us rejoice that, “I have been crucified with Christ: and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me, (Gal. 2. 19-21).

For many it is more than an accessory of their costume jewellery; for many it is a charm that is supposed to bring good fortune – such as a horse-shoe or a black cat. However, there is the beautiful custom of kissing the figure of the crucifix before reciting the Rosary.  Others who are proud to wear upon their person this emblem of their Christianity might do well to show it this same affectionate reverence.  We make exception for those whose crosses are permanently attached to their ears! – would like to insert this piece of mischief?

Isidore O.P.