The Mystery of the Cross

How do I know what you are like

oh

my God!?

perhaps you are to be known

in the beauty of the mountains

or in the gentleness of a 

fawn

asleep in the flower

perhaps you are to known

in the sun

or the rain

in the green newness of spring

perhaps you are to be known

in the smile of a grandchild

the joyous laughter

of people in love

but perhaps

perhaps

you are best known through the cross

Crux probat monia

"the cross proves everything"

in the cross

You

the creator

the Word

the something behind everything

you participated in human suffering

you did not just passively tolerate it

or observe it (Rohr)

as we gaze upon the mystery of the cross

we see the real sin of the world

we see power misused and abused

we see evil attacked with evil

hate with hate

violence with violence

and as we gaze upon 

Jesus 

hanging, bloody

passive

silent

we see you

revealing the lie and absurdity

of hate and violence

as we gaze upon the cross

we are changed

we see You differently

we see ourselves differently

on the cross 

is revealed

your heart, my God

we see

pure gift!

grace!

glory!

we see Love

and as we gaze upon the cross

if we gaze long enough

we understand

On the cross you are saying

all other ways of being

the way of violence

greed

hate

fear

the way of Law

and coercion

stop here