What do you see
At a recent Mass where I served as an ordinary minister of the Precious Blood, I observed a situation I had not encountered before. One parishioner, upon receiving the Body of Christ in her hand, stepped to the side, consumed the host, and gazed at the crucifix above the tabernacle. She gazed for more than just a few seconds. And I wondered what caused her to do that. That led me to consider how often I gaze upon the crucifix, and more importantly, what I see in that gaze.
I thought of this as I reflected on the First Reading from the Book of Numbers. As punishment, God sent serpents to live with the people. The serpents bit some of them, and many died. Naturally, the people complained to Moses, who returned to God in prayer. God told Moses to place a serpent on a pole and hold it up. Anyone who was bitten would be healed simply from looking at the pole with the serpent. This is a precursor to looking at Jesus upon the cross. And it begs the question: What do we see upon gazing at the cross?
I posed this question to friends over coffee. One said that, to him, the cross represents transformation. Another indicated healing was involved, knowing that Jesus died for each of us. A third opinion focused on God’s tender mercy. When asked for my thoughts, I said that Jesus on the cross represents unconditional love: he stretches out his arms and says, “This is how much I love you,” and then gives himself up for us.
As our Lenten journey begins to wind down, and we prepare to enter Holy Week, ask yourself: “What do you see when you gaze upon Jesus on the cross?” And then ask yourself how that answer, whatever it is, can shape you into the Easter season and beyond.
Deacon Paul Kipfstuhl is the Director of the Social Action Office for the Southwest part of Catholic Charities in Cleveland. He serves St. Francis Xavier Parish in Medina, Ohio, where he lives with his wife, Michelle. They have two adult children, and a granddaughter who all live in California. Paul is on the Parish Social Ministry Leadership for Catholic Charities USA, and is co-chair for NACSAM.