Christ's Prayer from the Cross

Introduction Each one of us received a sign of the cross on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday reminding us of our origin and ultimate destination. What an incredibly rich symbol—this sign of cross! I propose that the cross be for you and me the predominant image in our spiritual journey together on this Good Friday.

Pope Francis has said, “Christianity does not exist without a Cross.” It is impossible, in fact, to have Christianity without the cross and the cross without Jesus Christ. The cross is the sublime mystery of God’s abiding love for us for he “annihilated himself to save us; was made sin.” And that took place on the cross. The mystery of the cross is the recognition that our wounds, the wounds that each of us bears due to our sin, could only be healed

by Jesus’s own wounds when he died on the cross for us.

In one of his Sunday audience talks, Pope Francis said, “One who wishes to know Jesus must gaze upon the Cross, where his glory is revealed.” The cross is not simply a decoration, much less a fashion accessory, but is, instead, “a religious sign to contemplate and comprehend.” Pope Francis teaches us that “in the image of Jesus Crucified is revealed the mystery of the death of the Son of God as supreme act of love, font of life and of salvation for the humanity of all time.” “The only way to heal is to look at the Cross, to look at God who takes upon himself our sins: my sin is there” (March 18, 2018 Audience). The cross is the incredible means for our healing and new life in Christ. It is where we meet Jesus.

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