Suffering joined to love works redemption!

 Legend says of Saint Francis of Assisi that he only had to catch sight of a crucifix and his eyes would fill with tears.  The stark reality of the cross, with the broken body of the Savior, expresses the great mystery of God‘s love like nothing else!          The Protestant theologian Jurgen Moltmann was famous for his book Theology of Hope (1967), which was considered by some to open the way to a brave new world of theological reflection.  Immediately after writing it, and to the surprise of both friendly and unfriendly critics, Moltmann wrote The Crucified God (1974).  He explained his theme beginning with these words:
 
       The cross is not and cannot be loved.  Yet only the crucified Christ can bring the freedom that changes the world because it is no longer afraid of death.  In his time the crucified Christ was regarded as a scandal and as foolishness.  Today, too, it is considered old-fashioned to put him in the center of Christian faith and of theology.  Yet only when
people are reminded of him, however untimely this may be, can they be set free from the power of the facts of the present time, and from the laws and compulsions of history, and be offered a future which will never grow dark again.  
 
       Today the church and theology must turn to the crucified Christ in order to show the world the freedom he offers.  That message is exactly what we need to really concentrate on!  The Savior who is lifted up, heals!  The instrument of punishment has become the instrument of blessing!  The relentless irony of Jesus‘ self-emptying on the cross means his glorification for all time!  
 
       In our own lives, we are called upon to follow that pattern and join all suffering to love.  Raissa Maritain, wife of the Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain, wrote a sentence that could be placed under our crucifixes and which explains the glory and the triumph of the cross; ‗Suffering joined to love works redemption!‖
 
       Peter didn‘t like some of what Jesus had to say, especially the part about his coming suffering and death.  Peter tried to silence Jesus.  However, Jesus would have none of that, and rebuked Peter harshly.  We, too, are sometimes prone to want to soft-pedal some of the Gospel because it makes us uncomfortable!  Ask Peter to help you learn to listen to all of it as he finally did!