Our new life in Christ comes about by our sharing in his death. St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans: “For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 6,5-11)
We venerate the cross of Jesus because it has become for us the new Tree of Life. The Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus, is the fruit of the new Tree of Life. Whoever eats this fruit will have eternal life. For us as Catholic Christians, the cross of Christ is no longer viewed as an instrument of torture for criminals, something to be ashamed of, but it is now the sign and symbol of our new life in Christ. We glory in the cross of Christ. It is the visible sign that makes God’s love visible for us. We no longer live only to please ourselves but we live to please God. Jesus has shown us God’s love for us and now we must love Christ Jesus in return. St. Paul tells the Corinthians: “For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2Cor 5,14f)
Some people tell me that they are sometimes afraid to share their faith and feel that they would be ridiculed for what they believe. What is it that we believe? We have come to know and to believe in the love of God. We believe that Jesus has loved us to the end and has demonstrated a “no greater love” than to lay down his life for us, his friends. Why would we be afraid to share that faith? We believe in the fullness of life and that our participation in the life of Jesus gives to us abundant life. What would be embarrassing about that? That is truly Good News! We indeed should glory in the cross of Christ that is a visible sign of God’s love for us and is now the Tree of Life that gives us the fullness of life. We believe that there is more to life than meets our eyes. The death and resurrection of Jesus shows us the way, the truth and the life that our hearts long for. All of these things we learn in the Holy Eucharist, through celebrating the sacrifice of love that Jesus offers for the world and that communicates life to us.
Don’t be ashamed of the cross of Christ! Don’t be afraid to take up the cross and carry it in love. Death is but a momentary experience, life is an eternal celebration of God’s love. Death has no sting now that Jesus has passed through death and reigns eternally in glory in the kingdom of heaven. Behold the wood of the cross on which hung our savior, come let us adore! Amen!