power of the cross

The Power of the Cross: One Single Event of Suffering, Cross, and Glory Second Sunday of Lent Readings: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17—4:1

Many of us are blessed to live in a place where comfort and convenience are abundant. We enjoy pleasure, good times, achievements, and even power and glory. There's nothing wrong with these things—they’re part of life. But here’s the challenge we face today: we are often afraid of suffering. We don’t want to face hardships, and we try to avoid crosses in life.

This fear leads us to miss something very important. We fail to see the deep connection between suffering, the cross, death, resurrection, and glory in our Christian journey.

In the Gospel today, we see this reality in the story of the Transfiguration. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus in His glory, speaking with Moses and Elijah. Peter, overwhelmed, says, “Master, it is good that we are here.” But even after witnessing this glory, the disciples didn’t understand the full picture. Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus about His suffering and death, but the disciples were only focused on the glory. They were blinded by what they saw.

We, too, can become blinded by earthly glory and miss the essential connection between the cross and glory. The cross is not something we can separate from our Christian life because, in truth, they are one single event. The suffering, the cross, death, resurrection, and glory all belong together in God’s plan for us.

I once asked my seminary professor, “can God save us without dying on the Cross? He told me, “We cannot separate the Paschal Mystery because it is one single event—Christ’s suffering, cross, and resurrection are one complete act. That’s why we celebrate the Triduum as one event, from Holy Thursday to the Easter Vigil.”

Jesus Himself says, “Whoever wants to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” He adds, “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the Gospel will save it.” This is clear: we cannot follow Jesus without the cross. A faith that doesn’t embrace the cross is incomplete.

The world avoids the cross, becoming weaker as a result. Those who avoid their crosses will find themselves easily broken when temptation and suffering come. As Christ’s disciples, we are not the enemies of the Cross, as St. Paul said in the second reading, because without the Cross, there is destruction.

But the good news is that the more we carry our crosses, the stronger we become. The more we bear our crosses, the closer we come to God. And the greatest news is this: the cross is the path to salvation.

Consider the story of a woman who fled Vietnam after 1975. She and her family boarded a small boat, but two of her brothers were shot by soldiers. After many days without food or water, she feared for her life. Yet, after enduring such suffering, she reached the United States. There, she started a new life and had a baby girl. Tragically, the baby only lived for one month. As a nun who witnessed the baby’s death shared, “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

This woman’s faith is remarkable. Imagine if someone who had never carried a cross could speak with such grace. Her strength and faith were shaped by her suffering. This is the power of bearing one’s cross.

St. Paul tells us, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”

Final Reflection: Everything we do reflects our answer to Jesus’ question: “Who do you say that I am?” If we say, “You are the Christ,” then we must take up our crosses and follow Him.

Reflective Questions:

What kind of faith do we live? Is it a faith that avoids challenges and sacrifices, refusing to take up the cross?

How can we embrace the cross in our lives, understanding that it is through the cross that we find glory and salvation?

Introduction:

America is the best country to live in term of convenience

Many of us live in a place of comfort and convenience, enjoying pleasure, achievements, power, and glory.

These things are not inherently wrong, but the challenge lies in our fear of suffering.

Here is the challenge: convenience may be the enemy of our Christian life.

We become weaker….

We often avoid hardship, missing the connection between suffering, the cross, death, resurrection, and glory in our Christian life.

The Gospel Message (Transfiguration):

Peter, James, and John witness Jesus in His glory, speaking with Moses and Elijah.

Peter’s response: “Master, it is good that we are here” — but they miss the full picture.

Moses and Elijah talk about Jesus’ suffering and death, but the disciples focus only on the glory they see.

The disciples were blinded by the glory, failing to understand that the cross was part of the same event.

Connection Between Cross and Glory:

· We want to remain on the Mountain

We often become blinded by earthly glory, failing to see the connection between the cross and glory.

The cross cannot be separated from the Christian life—it is one single event.

Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection belong together in God’s plan for us.

The Paschal Mystery: One Single Event:

Jesus’ work of salvation is completed in one single act—His suffering, death, and resurrection.

The Triduum (Holy Thursday to Easter Vigil) celebrates this one event.

Jesus' Words: “Whoever wants to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

A Faith That Embraces the Cross:

A faith that does not embrace the cross is incomplete.

The world avoids the cross, becoming weaker in the process.

Those who avoid their crosses will be spiritually fragile when facing temptations and challenges.

· As Christ’s disciples, we are not the enemies of the Cross, as St. Paul said in the second reading, because without the Cross, there is destruction.

The Power of Bearing the Cross:

The more we carry our crosses, the stronger we become.

The cross brings us closer to God.

The cross is the path to salvation.

Illustration: Story of a Vietnamese Woman:

Fled Vietnam in 1975, enduring immense suffering and loss.

Survived a dangerous journey at sea, eventually reaching the United States.

Started a new life, but tragically lost her baby girl after one month.

Despite the grief, she echoed the words of Job: “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Her strength and faith were shaped by her suffering—this is the power of bearing the cross.

Lent;  look at the cross, ask God to help us to carry our crosses in life. and one day we will be on the mountain with him

Reflective Questions:

What kind of faith do we have? Is it a faith that avoids challenges and sacrifices, refusing to take up the cross?

How can we embrace the cross in our lives, understanding that it is through the cross that we find glory and salvation?