Why the Cross

When I was in Chicago Social Action Summer Institute in July 2016, I met Deacon Randy Clement from St. John – The Evangelist Catholic Church in Prairieville, Louisiana.   He is member of the cloud of witnesses to Christ’s love and mercy in this world.   Randy graciously gave me permission to share the following reflection – Why the Cross?

When I was in Chicago Social Action Summer Institute in July 2016, I met Deacon Randy Clement from St. John – The Evangelist Catholic Church in Prairieville, Louisiana.   He is member of the cloud of witnesses to Christ’s love and mercy in this world.   Randy graciously gave me permission to share the following reflection – Why the Cross?

WHY THE CROSS?

My mind keeps struggling

with a question

that has my heart

in a quandary.

Did Jesus have to die on the cross?

I have been taught that he did

to appease a god

who was blood thirsty.

I don’t know if I want to worship

a god who sent his Son

to be a perfect sacrifice

by hanging him on a tree.

Atonement

has always been hard to swallow

and even harder to chew upon

not liking the taste at all.

Jesus reveals a loving God

not a god who needs

the blood of his Son

to forgive us his creatures.

My heart flows and beats easier

when Christ becomes

the Way to live

and the Way to treat all.

I do think Jesus had to die

but not for atonement

but because he was true

to who he was.

Love can not hate

Love can not strike

Love can not smite

Love can only LOVE.

The Cross wasn’t for atonement

of sins so deep and wide

the Cross was for victory

when we trust love and not hate.

So as I continue

to follow the best I can

I hope that each day

I will love more and more like Him.

When I am in the midst of violence

directed toward me or friend or foe

I hope I too can die

instead of begetting more of the same.

If Jesus died just for my sins

then why did he walk the dirty roads

and eat with sinners like me?

Love not hate LIBERATES!

Deacon Randy Clement