Hung on a Cross

Are we desensitized to the crucifixion?

We see the depiction of Christ hanging from the cross seemingly everywhere--around someone's neck, photos on the walls, a large wooden sculpture in a church. As with any image we've seen many a dozen times, it becomes just that. An image. We see it, recognize it's meaning...but do we really feel it's meaning? Or have we developed a hardness of heart to its emotional, personal meaning to us?

Each and every one of us are called to meditate deeper on the meaning of the crucifixion--especially on this Good Friday.

Why?

If we ask ourselves this question every time we see a depiction of the Crucifixion we can pull ourselves away from that common desensitization. Just one simple word can spark a call to action and change in our lives.

Why did Christ die for us? We can only imagine what it entailed--torture, ridicule and an excruciatingly painful death. So why did He suffer for a people who denied him? We certainly didn't deserve it--it wasn't owed to us by any means. As humanity, we already had our chance and we failed. We disappointed God, our Creator, and broke the relationship we had with Him. We are a fallen people and we didn't deserve a second chance. And yet, He gave us one. Why?

Love of a Father.

God is Love, and Love is what saved us. Love is the force that moved Christ to make that sacrifice on the cross. Love gave us the chance to be reconciled with God so we can come home to Him. God doesn't just love us as a whole humanity, He loves us each individually. And that sacrifice of blood was poured over each of us. "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" A fulfillment of the blood covenant that extends to us as individuals. But it is up to us to accept this offer to join our Creator in Heaven when our lives here are finished. The gates are open, but we must choose to walk the path now that will lead us there. How?

Love of a Child.

A child who loves their father does everything they can not to disappoint him. They walk with him hand-in-hand with adoration and admiration, looking to him for example. So should we walk hand-in-hand with our Father, and we should adore Him in how we talk and how we act. And when we look to Him for example we see that we are called to love. If we accept this call, to love as Christ loved us--loved us so deeply that he sacrificed His life--it will transform our lives.

Make every act an act of love. And the next time we look at a crucifix, let that be a reminder to us that the Love of a Father is what put Christ on that Cross, and the Love of a Child is what will reunite us with Him.