The Cross Is A Plus Sign

[Livin_the_MASS]

Hey Pham,

I was talking to one of my protestant buddies at work today about the Cross. He said he had someone close to him down the movie "The Passion of the Christ" because it did not show enough of the resurrection. I told him to many people try to take Our Lord off the Cross. Yes He conquered the Cross but He went through the Cross first.

Me and him can talk about anything, even though we might disagree we leave it at that. So I tried to explain to him how the climax of all the Gospels are the Death and Resurrection of Our Lord. It was the focus.

I tried to explain to him that Our Lord said "unless you take up your cross and follow me you cannot be my disciples." I tried to explain to him how Christ glorified human suffering on the Cross and how much suffering is wasted today. I tried to tell him how St. Paul wrote, "I rejoice in my suffering for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ...." I said that if we unite our sufferings and crosses to that of Christ's it can be redemptive. A lot of people say suffering is evil but its not. Christ suffered most of His life.

I also told him that at the Last Supper Christ said when He gave us His Precious Body and Blood with His own hands, He commanded "Do this in rememberance of Me" and how in Rev. it says "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing."

You know even after I got home I got to thinking, He even told Thomas to put his hands into His wounds. It is so apperent that Our Dear Lord wants us to remember His passion, even meditate on it.

My question I guess would be is how come the very act of Love that God showed for His people is being stripped away? I try my best to explain these thing but it doesn't come through to them.

I've been working with my protestant friends now for at least 4 years, at first we couldn't even discuss our faiths, but now at least we can share with each other. It's the Holy Spirit! Amen

Any pointers on this subject from anyone. It is a big issue these days. I come across this topic alot.

In the Love of Christ
God Bless
Jason

Edited April 7, 2004 by Jason

[Aloysius]

ppl want emotional happiness from their religion, the image of the crucifixion is foolishness to worldliness, the image of the crucifixion perplexes us because in our religion we are caught up in sadness, but sadness is not always evil, and happiness is not always good. Thus, the sorrow of Christ's passion perplexes those who have an emotionalistic religion. not accusing any1, but it's a fact amoung many Christians today that their religion is based soley on emotional highs.

[mamalove]

Any true Christian believes that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins, that He is our Savior. The act that saved us should be the most important thing. His Resurrection did not save us, His dying on the Cross saved us. The Resurrection is our Hope, but the Passion and Death is our Salvation.