Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Empty Cross
I have a shop in a flea market near where I live. Among the variety of articles that I sell is some religious jewelry that came from a religious goods shop that closed many years ago. I have some crucifixes and also simple crosses that can be worn on a chain.
Not long ago, an elderly woman and her young grandson stopped by and were looking at my selection of crucifixes and crosses. The little boy was pointing out the crucifixes to her, noting that Jesus' body was on the cross.
Grandma explained to the boy that they did not wear crucifixes; only crosses. Their religious faith was concentrated on the Resurrection of Jesus, not His Crucifixion. I thought this was an interesting explanation of a distinction between some Christian denominations and us Catholics who cherish both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection and are not shy about wearing images of the crucified Jesus, as well as medals representing different saints.
I thought Grandma did a nice job of explaining what she believed and I doubt that the child will forget what she taught that day.
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4 comments:
Being a former protestant, I have heard this and even said it. And, I'm sure this young boy will never forget his grandmother's words. However, I hope he will someday learn why she is missing out on a key piece of salvation history. We were REDEEMED by the Crucifixion. Without it, there would be no resurrection. Without there would be no salvation and we would be continuing our animal sacrifices to God. Jesus had to die to pay that debt, to equalize the scales of Justice as only a perfect sacrifice of God could do. He could have just come to preach to us how to live and be better people, but HE DIED for us. There is a great difference and those who just focus on the risen Christ might be missing out on the fullness of the gift he gave to us.
Thanks for the comment, Jenny. A valuable one since you have been there.
Beautiful story penny! I will share this with my family and friends. Makes you proud of being a Catholic! No empty tomb without Calvary.
Penny, I love the cross/crucifix story. I always think of Flannery O'Connor's m.o. in writing fiction: to demonstrate "the price of restoring good in the face of evil."
Such is the nature of the Crucifix.
One time, on a plane, a little girl sitting next to me, asked if that was Jesus on my crucifix. I said yes.
"How did he get there on that cross?"
"Some people who wanted to hurt Him nailed Him there," I offered.
She paused for a long time, then finally noted, "Couldn't they have just taped him up there?"
In Christ & Mary--Randy
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