The Son of Man is Lifted Up

We see them at football games, the placards which quote John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish, but might have eternal life."  While this passage is early in the Gospel it sums up John's Gospel, and salvation as well.  Jesus comes into our live as one like us so that we can have salvation and peace.

The cross reveals to us a divine presence that brings us healing and peace when we participate in it's mystery.  The actions of Jesus is the ultimate expression of how "God so loved the world" by making himself a total offering.  In this God demonstrates the radiance of divine love.  Of course in Baptism we are caught up in that love. It was the poet Anne Dillard who suggested that Christians should wear crash helmets and life preservers; that is if we understood the power we were invoking in God's name.

For Nicodemus who begins this Gospel discussion, we understand that he is a seeker of truth.  He approaches Jesus under the cover of darkness, but he is seeking the light of the world.  Jesus expounds upon the understanding that those who search for the truth will come to God through the cross.  But there are those who prefer darkness to light, and they try to stay away from that which is true or good.  In this contrast of light and darkness Jesus conveys the necessity for believers to remain focused on the light, and to participate in the illumination which Christ offers.

The lifestyle of the cross sets up a journey whereas dying and rising are regular parts of our pathway.  We do not have to go looking for suffering, it is part of our life and all around us.  We struggle to live a virtuous life, we are challenged to respond to the sick, suffering, and the poor, and to proclaim Good News.  We embrace the mystery of the cross so that we can have a wider view of Gods saving actions in our world.  The cross stretches our spiritual imagination.

We share in divine love when we are willing to be broken open for the sake of the Kingdom of God.  It sounds easy but it is not.  Saint Lactantius, from the first century, recalls for us that recognizing our sins is a first step in the way to conversion.  Just as Jesus washes the feet of his disciples prior to the Last Supper, we need to be willing to live in charity and chastity.  It is there that we can find God's love and mercy.

Hopefully the cross can speak words of challenge and peace to us.  It is the key to light, happiness, and peace.