Behold the Cross

Holy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday

The San Damiano Cross in the Basilica of Santa Chiara, Assisi

The celebration of the Paschal Triduum continues today.  Once again, our liturgy is hauntingly beautiful.  The church is bare.  In some places, the statues are covered.  The ministers prostrate themselves before the altar.  We hear Scripture.  Prayers are offered for all peoples of the world.  No mass is celebrated.

Crucifixion at the Church of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

But, perhaps, most importantly, we gather around the cross.  We hear the story of the cross of Jesus in the Passion Narrative from John.  We chant "Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world.  Come, let us adore."  As we leave the church in silence, the cross remains.

"Crucifixion" by He Qi

Today, we are invited to stay at the cross, to look upon the cross, to behold the cross.  But, we know that this is not easy.  The cross is a sign of destruction, a method of torture and death.  It's gruesome, in fact.  It just doesn't seem right, does it, to look upon it.  The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke seem to tell us the same thing.  There is no mention of Jesus' closest friends, his disciples, staying with him.  There are only a few women, but they are off in the distance.  No one is close.  It's as if Jesus' only companions in this hour of greatest need are the two thieves crucified beside him, and one is mocking him!

"Pieta" from Anguillara, Italy

Fortunately, the Gospel of John gives us some hope.  We hear that standing by the foot of the cross are his Mother, the Beloved Disciple, and a few women.  Still, not the crowd of followers who had earlier done everything they could to witness a miracle or hear his teachings.  But, Mary and the Beloved Disciple had the courage to stay at the cross, to behold the salvation of the world.  It has been said that Mary's presence at the foot of the cross is the confirmation of her "Fiat" spoken at the Annunciation.  When the angel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus, her response was "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.  Let it be done unto me according to your word."  In that moment, she said "yes" to all that God would do in her life, even seeing her only son die on the cross.  And yet, she stayed, she accepted it all.  Again, in the person of Mary, we see Marianist Stability.  We are called to stay at the foot of the cross, to embrace the cross even when it is difficult.  Luckily, we have the gift of community to support us and be with us, just as Mary and the Beloved Disciple had each other. 

"Three O'clock Icon" in the Marianist Generalate

So, today, we have a choice.  Who will we be like?  Will we stand at the cross like Mary and the Beloved Disciple?  Will we run away, or at best, just stay at a distance?  The choice is not easy.  We know what the cross entails.  But as people of faith, we also know the ultimate meaning of the cross - the salvation and life of the world.  Let us try to embody what the third antiphon from Lauds says today:

We worship your cross, O Lord,
and we praise and glorify your holy resurrection,
for the wood of the cross
has brought joy to the world.

"Behold the Wood of the Cross" by Dan Schutte

Blessed Triduum, my friends.

Ciao!