Once upon a time, there was a boy was very naughty in school. He had no religious background, never went to church or knew anything about God or faith. Well after countless calls from the principal to the parents about more bad things he did, the parents decided to remove him from the public school and try a Catholic school. And you know, there was never any calls from the Principal. He was always busy after school doing his homework. He never complained about school as he usually did. Finally, the parents said, “We are amazed by your change. What happened?” “ Well,” the boy said, “The first day that I got there I ran into one of my old friends from down the block. He pointed up to the crucifix and said, “See that guy hanging on the the plus sign? That’s what they do to the bad kids.”
That’s not true, but it does point to the importance of the cross. In the gospel, Jesus tells the crowd that if they want to follow him, they must take up the cross. when Jesus says that, he is not just referring to bearing one’s burdens or enduring our aches, pains, and woes! Those things are a part of life.
Jesus didn’t have to take up the cross—but he chose to—it’s the same with us. Take up a cross refers to choosing to do something.
Notice that there are two beams on a cross . . . the horizontal and the vertical beams. I have asked two assistants to join me to show you what I mean. [Have the tall kid stand still and look out.] Pretend he is the vertical beam . . . this represents our connection to God. Of course God is everywhere and not just up in the sky, but the “up in the air” symbolizes where many of us look for God.
And the point of this beam is to improve your relationship with God. There are many ways to connect with God . . . rosary, reading the bible, making up prayers, sitting in nature, listening to Christian music. They all are great. If you don’t feel a connection with God right now . . . change it up. Try something different. God wants to be in relationship, if you feel close, keep doing what you are doing. If not, experiment with something else.
The next beam [have tall kid hold his brother horizontally.] The horizontal beam . . . represents that we should all be reaching out to others, not just thinking about ourselves. You just heard the letter from St. James say, “what good is faith if you don’t do something with it? That’s for each of us to step up and get involved. Not to sit out, but make a difference. Mother Theresa says, “if you want to be like Jesus get out your broom and sweep someone’s house!”
The amazing part of the cross . . . is that at the point where the two beams come together . . . there lies Jesus. [Show a crucifix with the dead body of Jesus.] It is at this point that Jesus brings our purpose together . . . to love God and to love each other. And the cross which was meant as a sign of torture represents God’s willingness to be one of us even at the most broken and distorted moments of life.
For honestly, there are lots of bad things going on in the world. For example, the hurricane in the Carolina’s or the abuse of power by leaders in our Catholic Church. But the story of Jesus doesn’t end with suffering, it doesn’t with death. It continues with who we are meant to be as followers of Christ. That is, people of hope; people of resurrection.
Look at this crucifix [Show crucifix with a resurrection Jesus on it]. For even with bad things like a hurricane, it also brings out the best in people . . . people willing to help others, risky their lives or making donations. And with the bad things in the Catholic Church, our best response is to be our best. Fr. Richard Rohr says, “The best criticism of the bad, is the practice of the better.”
Go ahead, be positive . . . don’t stay stuck on the wounds or the pain, follow Jesus as he told us to do . . . become people of hope, of justice, of resurrection.
During the Preparation of Gifts, our musicians will singing a song called A Place at the Table.
It pretty well describes who are called to be as followers. The refrain goes:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace
Yes, God will delight when we are creators, creators of justice, of justice and joy.
For young and for old, a place at the table.
A voice to be heard, a part in the song,
The hand of a child
In hands that are wrinkled,
For young and for old
Young and for old, the right to belong
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace
Yes, God will delight when we are creators, creators of justice, of justice and joy.