Thursday, September 14, 2017

Grasping the nettle

Morning: Psalm 66; Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:11-17
Evening: Psalm 118; Genesis 3:1-15; I Peter 3:17-22

Today is Holy Cross Day. Some Bronze Age burial objects carried a cross, so the cross was connected with death before Christianity. In Christianity, the cross was so horrific it was not quickly adopted.  How could it possibly be holy?  Later, the cross became associated with ‘salvation’, a much-misused word, meaning ‘healing’.  The cross points to a human paradox: the path to healing goes through suffering.  They taught us as children that nettles sting less when you grasp them firmly. By confronting our pain, we humans can find healing power. Only its healing significance makes the cross holy.

Graham

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