The Logic of the Cross

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

Just in case your ego is getting a little too inflated and you are seriously tempted to congratulate yourself over your astuteness, then meditating over the string of rhetorical questions posed by the author of the Book of Wisdom in the first reading would be an excellent reality check that brings you back down to planet Earth. The gist of the point being pushed by these questions is simply this: If we cannot even penetrate to an understanding of the visible world around us, how can we hope to reach an understanding of the reasoning and mind of God which is beyond the grasp of all our senses? Or as one priest friend of mine is fond of saying: it’s like a chicken imagining himself to be a phoenix! True wisdom is arrived at, when we come to humbly acknowledge that the mysteries of God and His will for us lie well beyond the reach of all human faculties.

This is how we should approach the teachings of our Lord in the gospel on discipleship. Though our limited human reasoning is capable of seeing the value of weighing the costs that we must be willing to pay before we embark on any new enterprise (as illustrated by the two parables), sacrificing everything and the readiness to bear the cross lie beyond our human comprehension. How do we understand these demands: “Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” “None of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.” Both statements defy the common logic of the world. But to understand the cost of discipleship, one must first understand the logic of the cross.

The cross in Greek is ho stauros, a curse word that was never uttered in polite, respectable company. The cross! A scandal to say it, but an even bigger scandal to see the world through it. The logic of the cross is that greatness is achieved not through self-aggrandisement nor through pursuing ambitions of grandeur but by submitting humbly to the path of becoming little in the eyes of the world: life is attained through death; riches are gained through self-renunciation; glory is achieved through the humiliating path of the cross.

The logic of the cross is foolishness to those who are coming out sideways with their piles of degrees and string of titles. But for those of us who believe, the cross is salvation because it is a paradigm shift for how we see and understand God, whose will and power are never found in the materially rich, the powerful, the strong, the influential but in weakness, wonder, reverence and mystery. In fact, the logic of the cross inverts how we imagine power. It flips the hierarchy of value upside down by viewing the world through the lens of the crucified at the very bottom. That was how St Paul tried to convince Philemon to receive his slave, Onesimus, not as an inferior being but as an equal, a brother in Christ.

It is through the logic of the cross, that we should weigh the cost of discipleship. How much does it cost to follow the Lord? Among the hardest sayings in the gospels, today’s passage must certainly count as one of the hardest. But our Lord is laying out all the cards on the table. There is no hidden cost and small print at the bottom of this deal. If you want to follow Him, these are the things every disciple must be prepared to do.

The first statement seems to be the most shocking. Our Lord is unequivocally stating that unless we “hate” those we consider closest to us, we are unworthy of being His disciple. Of course, we can understand that He’s using a hyperbole to capture our attention. What our Lord is saying is that we must be willing to put Him first, ahead of all other human relationships, yes, including family members. Our Lord is certainly not promoting hostility nor is He discouraging filial piety. Rather, He is reminding us of our priorities. He comes first, others second and ourselves, last of all.

Christ is the centre of a truly Christian life. And so, our devotion to Him must supersede our bonds with family, friends, and possessions. We can’t give our hearts entirely to Christ if we’re weighed down too much with earthly cares.

By using two examples or parables, our Lord is saying: think long and hard about Christian discipleship before making a decision. These parables show that Christian discipleship isn’t easy; the commitment must be an ongoing decision to persevere in the faith. When we initially decide to follow Christ, we understand that there will be a price to pay. Only as life unfolds, do we learn the full cost. But our Lord warns us to expect having to pay a significant price, because the cost for Him was the cross at Calvary. Therefore, His followers too must be ready to carry the cross and follow after Him. We have to be willing to risk everything to be His disciple. Cheap, easy and undemanding discipleship is always a counterfeit.

Our Lord doesn’t want a large number of disciples who are only half-way committed to Him. He’s looking for followers who are “all-in,” dedicated to Him through prayer and discipleship. Quality matters more than quantity. Such is the wisdom and the logic of the cross.

St. Teresa of Avila once complained about the hardships that Christians face, and she heard the Lord say, “Teresa, whom the Lord loves, He chastises. This is how I treat all my friends.” Ever the witty thinker, she responded, “No wonder you have so few friends!” So, if you are experiencing suffering, hardship and persecution for Christ, or have few friends because of the Christian values you hold, do not despair. Remember: we are counted among the Lord’s friends. So, learn to take up your cross and learn its logic, and you will be assured of a wisdom and a reward that is beyond this world.