Reflection

on

the Mission

of

Jesus the Listener

Jesus on the Cross is the manifestation of God’s love for humanity and of the triumph of his mission on earth in the name of the Father. The Crucifix is the victory symbol of Jesus over death, sin and Satan, the prince of this world. “I—once I am lifted up from earth—will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32).

Jesus himself announces the plan of God and the method He will use to realize it. “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that all who believe may have eternal life in him” (John 3:14-15). St. Paul the Apostles clearly explains in his first letter to the Corinthians that God’s ways are not as ours, but much more efficacious. While the lifting up of Jesus is considered “a stumbling block to Jews, and an absurdity to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23), for those who are called it is “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24).

Indeed God surprises us. Not only does He use means which we would not even consider, but the motive behind his actions is pure love. God loves us infinitely, without counting the cost and without limits. “Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may not die but may have eternal live” (John 3:16).

Because of original sin we have merited death, and yet God does not condemn us. From the beginning He provides for our salvation through the eternal sacrifice of Jesus, his only begotten Son. “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him avoids condemnation, but whoever does not believe is already condemned for not believing in the name of God’s only Son” (John 3:17-18).

The plan of God therefore is above our thoughts and expectations. God outstretches us and yet does not leave us behind. He invites us to understand that He is close even if infinitely unapproachable. One thing is certain, we are an integral part of the plan. God saves us. For this Jesus has come and we are asked to share in its fulfillment. This is the acting of a God who does not surrender when faced with our disobedience and our refusal to love. God uses the pride of Lucifer and our participation in it as evidence of our rebellion to his plan and transforms it in the cause of our salvation. “When you lift up the Son of Man, you will come to realize that I AM and that I do nothing by myself. I say only what the Father has taught me” (John 8:28-29).

For this reason then we can continuously repeat that the image of the Crucifix is the image of God’s love toward humanity and the whole creation. When we are in his presence it is as if we immersed in a purifying furnace because the reality of the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ drives away from us all the evil influences and permits us to look into the oceanic mirror of the mercy of God our Father.

To welcome the Crucifix in our home is having him as a special guest, a great privilege, a rich source of grace and a great blessing of God on each member of the family and on the family as a whole.

“Here I stand, knocking at the door. If anyone hears me calling and opens the door, I will enter his house and have supper with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself won the victory and took my seat beside my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:20- 21).

The Crucifix is also life teaching. Looking at a Crucifix we can read the will of God and how He wants to redeem us. “If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and begin to follow in my footsteps. Whoever would save his life will lose, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would a man show if he were to gain the whole world and destroy himself in the process? What can a man offer in exchange for his very self?” (Matthew 16:24-26).

The Crucifix is a lesson of divine wisdom which contrasts very much with the wisdom of this world. “The greatest among you will be he one who serves the rest. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12).

God teaches us his divine wisdom through the Crucifix which is a seat of learning of the suffering and death of Jesus who is only and eternal teacher.

In order to understand the content of the Cross of Jesus and ours, which Jesus has invited us to carry following his example we must prepare.

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, ‘Stay here while I go over there and pray.’ He took along Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, and began to experience sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, ‘My heart is nearly broken with sorrow. Remain here and stay awake with me.’ He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer. ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Still, let it be as you would have it, not as I.’ When he returned to his disciples, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, ‘So you could not stay awake with me for even an hour? Be on guard, and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but nature is weak. Withdrawing a second time, he began to pray: ‘My Father, if this cannot pass me by without my drinking it, your will be done!’ (26-36-42)

Our prayer is efficacious only if it is in imitation to the prayer of Jesus. As we try to understand the example Jesus has given us, we cannot let discouragement distract us from following Jesus. We must not be afraid because of our weaknesses and distractions. Jesus has promised us that even in our weakness and distraction if we are humble and sincere we will find in him a God willing to listen. “So I say to you, ‘Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. For whoever asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; whoever knocks, is admitted’” (Luke 11:9-10).

Finally the Crucifix is the invitation of God to look at him in the face and recognize ourselves and his children, understand our belonging to his family, recognize our personal dignity evaluate the beauty of our goal and rejoice in the possibility of being able to realize it for all eternity.

REFLECTION ON THE CRUCIFIX

JESUS THE LISTENER

We are generally accustomed to crucifixes that represent a Jesus who has already died on the Cross.  This new Crucifix, however, entitled JESUS THE LISTENER represents Jesus alive, aware of his surroundings—and “listening” to his People. 

In our Christian tradition, Jesus has been presented to us under many different titles, each one emphasizing a particular truth of his divinity and humanity.  In this devotion, Jesus is presented as The Listener because He is never far away from us, and He is always ready to hear and answer our prayers. 

With his body bent forward and his eyes fixed on the person in front of him, Jesus the Listener expresses the mercy of the God-Man who loves without counting the cost and who forgives unconditionally.  God is unchangeable and infinite in his love for us.

Jesus’ face expresses divine compassion, love, and forgiveness for our fallen human condition.  Jesus not only manifests the atrocious condition of a crucified man, but also the cruel reality of the effects of our sins.

May this Jesus the Listener Devotion bring us to experience conversion, repentance, and sorrow for our sins.  May it also give us a greater confidence in the “listening” quality of Jesus.  May we come to know his Peace in the midst of our own sufferings. 

May the realization that the Passion of Jesus is God’s greatest act of love lead each of us to greater awareness of our personal importance in the eyes of God.