Can we see the crucifix so often that we do not really see it?

 

And yet Jesus was on the cross for three hours, not every hour of every day.

I think we can get so used to seeing the crucifix every day that we can really miss seeing it.

When we designed the new St. Gerald Church at 96th and Q in Omaha, we had the sculptor create two Christ figures, one of a risen, smiling Christ and the other of the Suffering Messiah. It is revealed only during Lent and when it is, the people see it afresh, in a new revealing way.

The same can be said of our daily observations of the world arond us. There is so much suffering, so many cross bearers all around that we can barely take it in, so we usually confine our vision to our own comfort zone.

And so we come to Passion Sunday. The litirgical coloris is  RED to denote PASSION.

PASSIONS MOVE US AND WE ARE MEANT TO BE MOVED DURING THIS SPECIAL WEEK: MOVED OUT OF INDIFFERENCE, APATHY, BUSINESS AS USUAL.

Our whole Lenten journey has been a progression through the spiritual desert, with some little discomforts along the way: abstinence, almsgiving. Today, we in symbol "go up tp Jerusalem" with Jesus, and recall the momentous events that transpired there.

And so the Liturgy reminds us:

"Today we gather with the whole church to herald

the beginning of the celebration of the Paschal Mystery,

that is to say his Passion and Resurrection.

and so we proclaim:

We adore you O Christ and we bless you,

because by your holy cross,

you have entered deeply into the world's

suffering and degradation.

To be among us and walk with us,

and to lift us out of it,

to raise us up with you

to newer life!

Amen

 

and so we pray

with the goog and loyal jewish people of jerusalem,

we join our hosanna.