A Twelfth Century mosaic on the aspe of the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome depicts the Cross of the Lord as a Tree of Life. The mosaic is a stunning, majestic, colorful work of art whose focal point is Christ on the Cross. A cross that grows out of a tree and is surrounded by interlocking lush vines.
The cross generates life to all who are depicted on the mosaic — women, men, laborers, shepherds, farmers, monks, builders, saints and others involved in a variety of human activities. All are enfolded in the extensive branches of the tree and all are connected by the vines. All are gathered around the Cross of the Savior who reconciles humanity and even creation to the Father. The world of nature is depicted with breathtaking images of birds, baskets of fruit and animals.
That image of the Tree of Life comes to mind as I reflect on this past Holy Week which was quite a spiritual workout as I travelled to different parishes around the diocese for the liturgical celebrations. In each parish I experienced powerful liturgies. I experienced the Lord of the Cross.
The attention to the details of the ceremonies, beautiful music, well prepared liturgical ministers, capable lectors, tasteful sanctuary decoration, speak to the ministry of each pastor to provide the best for his parishioners and to give glory to God through the prayer of the Church.
My Holy Week journey went like this: Palm Sunday, Saint Vincent de Paul, Mays Landing; the Mass of the Chrism, Our Lady of Hope, Blackwood; Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Saint Simon Stock, Berlin; Good Friday, a Latino procession through the streets and the Liturgy of the Passion and Death of the Lord, Saint Damien, Ocean City; the Easter Vigil, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Camden, and Easter Sunday, Infant Jesus, Woodbury Heights.
At each liturgy, the Cross of the Lord, the Mystery of Salvation, was the focus. The faithful who departed Palm Sunday Mass took blessed palm as a reminder of the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem where he died on the Cross. The Sacred Chrism which was consecrated and the Holy Oils which were blessed for use in the Sacraments and other anointing rituals are applied by the minister with the Sign of the Cross. At the Last Supper Jesus gave as a remembrance of his saving death, the Holy Eucharist. The Latino community on the streets of Ocean City gave witness to the Crucified Savior as they publicly prayed and reenacted the Stations of the Cross. The faithful, including the elderly and children, reverently approached and bowed to the wood of the cross at the liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and Death. The catechumens and candidates of the Cathedral Parish were marked with the Sign of the Cross. The jubilant alleluias sung with gusto on Easter Sunday by the parishioners of Infant Jesus, rang out the victory of God in Christ, a victory achieved through the Cross.
On the Cross the Lord died for us. Not for his own sake. Jesus willingly laid down his life to reconcile us to the Father. He accepted its ignominy to obtain eternal salvation for us. His offering was perfected in his Resurrection to life when he escaped the clutch of death and burst from the grave. Christ is risen. God triumphs. The sign of Salvation is the Cross.
I do not think any of us have to go looking for crosses. We experience plenty of them in our lives. Sometimes they can be overwhelming. They are personal, familial, social and communal. The challenges are to grow in our understanding of them as life giving and to allow them to bring us closer to Jesus. Crosses are not acts of God getting even with us.
The Gospel teaches that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory (Lk 24:46). So does each Christian for whom the pattern is the same as the pattern for Christ. The pattern is death to life.
As we celebrate this Easter Season we do so under the sign of the Cross. Yes, it is Easter, but Easter follows Good Friday. The Lord is Risen, but the Risen Lord is wounded by what He suffered on the Cross. As we journey to the Resurrection, we carry our crosses as the Lord carried His. May they be life giving and envelop and connect us to Him, the Lord of the Cross.
A story about Simon of Cyrene, who was taken out of the crowd to help Jesus carry the Cross, relates that as Simon walked with Jesus, his task became lighter. When he took his eyes off Jesus in front of him and looked around he realized that he was carrying a cross. Simon thought he was helping Jesus to carry the cross, but the truth he realized was that Jesus was helping him to carry it. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the Lord of the Cross who will help us to carry ours.
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D.
Bishop of Camden