Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Crucifix and the Preaching of the Gospel—St. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians about what was at the center of everything in the Church: Christ, the crucified!  “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. … And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Cor. 1:18; 2:1-2)  A crucifix is not the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but it is a symbol for that preaching.  The proclamation of the Gospel saves, creates faith, forgives sins, and rescues from death and the devil when it is received by faith precisely because it is the PROCLAMATION to sinners that God in Christ reconciled them to Himself through the death of His Son, who fully atoned for their sin and won their forgiveness.  “Jesus is your righteousness, life, and salvation for you as a sinner because He suffered and died for you upon the cross.  His death paid the full price for all your sin.  Be of good cheer, for the sake of Jesus’ death upon the cross your sins are forgiven.”  That is the “message of the cross” that saves the penitent sinner who believes it.  When one believes the message of the cross, the crucifix can be a comforting reminder of all that Jesus did for us in His death upon the cross.  The message of the cross does not deny the resurrection of Jesus, rather it is the source of life from the dead for Jesus first and then for all who believe the message of Christ crucified.

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