Scriptural Basis
John 12:31-36a (NRSV)
Jesus said, "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light."
Blog Reflection
As Christians we know the Cross as the universal symbol of our religion. Of all the subjects written about in the history of the Christian Church the mystery of what the Cross means is the subject of books, prayers and whole cultures for centuries.
What does the Cross mean that Jesus gave his life on it? What does the Cross teach us about the real world we live in? What should our response be to what the Cross has come to mean in our own lives? These and many questions continue to be asked among Christians.
However, the question that really needs to be asked in our time is what the Cross does not mean.
The Cross does not mean that Christianity supercedes all other religions in the world.
The Cross does not mean that all Christians must conform to one understanding only of the Christian faith.
The Cross really is not a peace symbol. A tremendous act of violence took place there. Not only for Jesus, but for many people who were oppressed by the Roman Empire. Crucifixion was an act of capital punishment, but does not make capital punishment an acceptable measure for dealing with crime.
The Cross is not an excuse for violence, prejudice and the dehumanization of other peoples, races, classes, religions, philosophies, cultures, sexual orientations, genders, gender identities and/or expressions.
The Cross does not condone the denial of health care to millions of sick and suffering people all across America. Nor does the Cross condone people shouting: "Yeah, let them die" when asked if it is okay to tell a 30 year man that he will have no health care while in a coma, because he did not buy his own during a Presidential debate.
Nor does the Cross compliment an outrageous Texas Judicial ruling that the husband of a same-sex couple may not leave his children with his husband because he is "not related."
In the Gospel narrative chosen for this holy day in our Church Tradition, Jesus is talking about throwing down the evil powers of this world, by drawing all to himself. Jesus draws all to himself in his total act of self-giving love that he exercised not only by the act of allowing himself to die on the Cross. Jesus also demonstrated a life of selfless and sacrificial love by what he did through out his life. Jesus healed the sick. Raised the dead. Welcomed strangers from places outside of his own community, who had been marginalized. Jesus made deep friendships with women and honored their faith and courage. Jesus healed the servant and the same sex partner of the Roman Centurion (see Mt. 8:5-13) who would later stand by the Cross and acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah 56: 3-5 by recognizing the eunuchs (the gay men) of his time. (See Mt. 19: 10-12).
God desires to draw all people to God's Self, not as others would like them to be, but as they are. Different ways of living and/or behaving do not prevent God from drawing such people to God's Self. Sexual orientation does not prohibit God from drawing a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or questioning person to God's Self unless they change. The decision of two people of the same-gender joining their hearts and lives together in marriage does not keep God from gathering them to God's heart and celebrating their love and the holiness of their life together.
All too often the Cross has been the weapon of choice along with the Bible, to become agents of division among diverse people. Church leaders, vestries, conferences and ministers can find every use of the Cross to exclude people, but we do not see them using the Cross as the reason every person must be included.
In our Gospel today, Jesus sees his work and mission as one of drawing all to himself. To do something that changes cultures of hostility, oppression and darkness. Jesus wants to draw all to himself so that all may know that God loves everyone unconditionally and all-inclusively.
Prayers
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for Holy Cross Day, Book of Common Prayer, page 244).
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the Cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you, for the honor of your Name. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 101).
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 833).
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