Take Up Your Cross

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            If you have been tuned into the news this week, then you have seen a lot of heartbreaking stories coming out of Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.  I am particularly saddened by the images of small children who have been affected by these floods. The look of terror and confusion on their faces makes my heart hurt for my own children. And worst of all, my heart breaks for the children who have lost their parents in these floods.

I just can’t imagine. Words fail to comprehend this kind of pain and suffering. This kind of stuff isn’t supposed to happen. Our children are supposed to grow up in a world full of hope and possibilities. But what are you supposed to say to a child who just lost their mom or dad in a flood? How can you tell them we have a God who is good? Where is the hope?

In the last weeks and months, I have become acutely aware of the outrageous pain and suffering of this world – as well as the pain and suffering some of you are going through in your own personal lives. The temptation is to shut ourselves off to the pain and suffering. It is too much to bear. The temptation is to find escape, to turn the radio or TV to a different channel, to read a magazine instead of opening the newspaper. While it isn’t healthy to be exposed to this kind of news all the time, we can’t completely shut ourselves off to the pain and suffering of the world.

In today’s lesson, Jesus informs his disciples that the Messiah must undergo pain and suffering and even death before rising again on the third day. Peter just can’t imagine that suffering and pain is an integral part of God’s plan of salvation. Like us, Peter wants to change the channel. Surely, there is a way to avoid it all. Peter says to Jesus, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.”

After Jesus scolds Peter for his response, he tells the disciples that there is no other way. Jesus tells the disciples that the way of pain and suffering, the way of the cross is the only possible way forward. Jesus tells his disciples that the way to life isn’t around the pain but through the pain.

The reality of pain and suffering in this world is so great that it cannot be ignored so great that it cannot be minimized. If we close ourselves off to the brokenness of this world, we then close ourselves off to the gift of salvation. We close ourselves off to the possibility of hope.

Over the last few weeks, I have explored with you how the cross of Jesus Christ is constructed out of humanity’s love of power and control. I explored how the cross reveals just how totally destructive human sin is. This week I want to explore how the cross of Jesus Christ exposes humanity’s on-going need for humility and compassion.

For those of us who have most of what we need – food, shelter, transportation, etc. – it is sometimes easy to believe we can get through this life without any help. I know I like to be self-sufficient. I don’t like to ask others for help. I take pride in the fact that I can care of my family.

But there are times when I come to that place where I feel completely helpless. There are times when I know there is no way that I can dig myself out of a hole on my own. And God forbid, there are times when I must cry for help. There is no other way out.

The images and stories that we are getting out of Houston show us this side of the cross. The images and stories that we are getting out of Houston take us to the cross of Jesus Christ where we are reminded just how needy we are as human beings, where we are reminded of just how helpless we really are.

Houston reminds us that food, shelter, transportation can be taken away from us at any minute. Houston reminds that even the most self-sufficient people can be left completely helpless and vulnerable. Houston reminds us that the only way we can be pulled out of the ditch are from people who are attentive and responsive to the pain and suffering of the world.

As I am sure you have also seen on the news, there are heartwarming stories coming out of Houston. People are doing whatever they can to rescue those in danger. People are doing whatever they can to provide relief. I saw a video of a woman who was rescued on a wave runner.

Agencies like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA, and Episcopal Relief and Development are already on the ground providing services. Every sector of our society is doing what they can to reach out in compassion for those who have been rendered helpless by Harvey. And nobody is asking, do they deserve to be saved?  Their need for help is the only requirement.

Likewise, our need for help is the only requirement for our salvation. God did not send his only Son to die for a people who can help themselves. And God never stopped to ask who is deserving. Rather, God sent his only Son to undergo suffering and death to lift the helpless (aka the whole world) back to life. God sent his only Son to meet us in our suffering and carry us back to life with a compassion and love that lives beyond the cross, beyond the grave.

The cross of Jesus Christ reminds us that God is both attentive and responsive to the outrageous pain and suffering of this world. Even more, the cross reminds us that there are no words that can comprehend the pain and suffering of the world – only a God who responds to outrageous pain with an outrageous love on the cross of Jesus Christ can help us begin to comprehend hope during even the darkest of hours. The cross of Jesus Christ reminds the world that hope shines in the darkness.

Now it is our turn to respond with that outrageous love and remind the world of God’s story of hope in Christ. We who live beneath the cross of Jesus Christ know that humility and compassion and mercy are the only way forward in a world that is terribly broken. We who live beneath the cross know that Houston is not the only place where the cross of Jesus Christ is emerging today.

The cross of Jesus Christ emerges anywhere there is suffering and pain and hopelessness. The cross of Jesus Christ emerges anywhere there is violence and hatred and injustice. The cross of Jesus Christ emerges anywhere people are crying for help.

May we have the grace and courage to not only open ourselves up to the pain of the crosses emerging in this world but also the grace and courage to take up our crosses and follow Jesus into the storms of this life where incomprehensible suffering is transformed into an undeniable hope. Amen.