Is there any beauty to be found in the Cross of Christ?
Years ago, I served in Trail. One of the parishioners – a young mother came to me and said: “Tahlia (her four year old daughter) asked me: ‘Mum, why is Jesus bleeding; what happened to him?’” I got some work cut out for me to answer that question. Tahlia was persistent. She is 12 now and has continued to grow in her love for Jesus.
When we look at the crucifix, it is hard to see beauty, we see blood. But there is much more than that. A few years ago, we were in Cache Creek for our Priests’ Annual Retreat. Bishop Emeritus John Corriveau OFMCap spoke on the Cross of Christ and shared with us what St. Bonaventure said:
- Look at the Cross of Christ, what do you see: His Head is bowed that He can kiss us.
- His hand is open so that He can caress us.
- His arms out-stretched so that He can embrace us
- His feet fixed so that He won’t depart from us.
- His heart torn open offering us free entry into the heart of the Father.
Before the retreat, I didn’t know that about the Crucifix. I was enriched and ever since that day I have gazed at the Crucifix with new eyes. I see beauty… I see the God who loves me..
The Samaritan Woman
Von Balthazar once said: “Beauty attracts us, it captures us and sends us out on a mission.”
In the encounter with Jesus, the Samaritan woman met Beauty: the Beauty that made her, that loved her…. Yes, her life was a mess, but it became beautiful because she met Jesus. For the first time, someone treated her like a human being, not as an object to be used and dumped. Jesus made her feel and look beautiful. She is no longer ashamed. She goes back to her community to speak about the One she met. As the song goes: ‘Everybody ought to know who Jesus is…’
Pope Benedict said: There is nothing more beautiful than to encounter Jesus; there is nothing more beautiful than friendship with Him; there is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak with others about our friendship with Him. (Paraphrased)
Borrowed Crucifix at St. Ann’s
We have returned the large Crucifix to the person who loaned it to us. What we have now is a small one that I borrowed from one of our parishes. Well, we need to get our own Jesus 😊….. a parishioner asked me: “Where is our Jesus; what happened to Him.” I thought that was neat.
Appeal
Would you help us to get another Crucifix, to have our own Jesus? By donating to the Pilgrimage of Faith this year, we will be able to get a new Crucifix. That is St. Ann’s Parish Goal for 2021. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
As we walk with Jesus this lent, may we find beauty in Him; may that which has become dull or disfigured shine again and be made beautiful. May we all continue to find comfort and solace in His Cross this Lent and always.
Your brother, ~ Fr. Obi