TO FOLLOW JESUS LEADS TO THE CROSS
We are so familiar with the cross of Calvary that it no longer causes much impression. Custom domesticates it and «diminishes it» completely. That’s why it’s good to remember some aspects all too forgotten about the Crucified One.
Let’s begin by saying that Jesus didn’t die a natural death. His death hadn’t been the expected extinction of his biological life. They have killed Jesus violently. He hasn’t died either as a victim of a casual or unfortunate accident, but rather condemned after a process carried out by the religious and civil forces most influential in that society.
His death has been the consequence of the reaction he provoked by his free, fraternal and solidary action with the most poor and abandoned of that society.
This means to say that you can’t live out the Gospel without consequences. You can’t construct God’s reign, which is a reign of fraternity, liberty and justice, without provoking rejection and persecution by those who aren’t interested in any change whatsoever. Solidarity with the defenseless is impossible without suffering the reaction of the powerful.
His commitment to create a more just and human society was so concrete and serious that his whole life was committed. And yet Jesus wasn’t a revolutionary, or a political leader, or a religious fanatic. He was a man in whom was incarnate and was made reality the unfathomable love of God for human beings.
That’s why we now know what are the forces that feel threatened when true love penetrates into a society, and how they react violently trying to overcome and smother the actions of those who seek a more just and free fraternity.
The Gospel will always be persecuted by those who put safety and order above fraternity and justice (Pharisaism). God’s reign will always be seen blocked by all political power that understands itself as absolute power (Pilate). The message of love will be rejected at its roots by every religion in which God isn’t Father of those who suffer (Jewish High Priests).
To follow Jesus always leads to the cross; it implies being ready to suffer conflict, polemics, persecution and even death. But his resurrection reveals to us that for a crucified life, lived out until the end with Jesus’ spirit, there only awaits the resurrection.
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
