The Holy Cross is Our Hope

“With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses.” (Numbers 21:4b-9) I can relate to this.  The life of faith often seems like a long trip in the desert.  At times it can seem to bring very little reward, and in the midst of the struggle, the memory of slavery in our own “Egypt” can seem more attractive than God’s promise of freedom.  All who walk the path of discipleship will pass through this desert.  Indeed, the experience of wandering in a desert bereft of God’s presence is so common in the Christian life that our tradition has a name for it.  St. Mother Teresa and St. John of the Cross called it “the dark night of the soul”.  The desert fathers called it the “noon-day demon.”  The demon was not so much a little devil with horns as it was a description of the powerful temptation to leave the path to holiness.  The temptation can take many forms, and if we yield to it, we risk becoming bitter and alienated from God.  How odd it is that following God can lead to bitterness and alienation, but it can. 

The only real response to the noon-day demon and dark night of the soul is prayer and patience.  We must focus our gaze upon Jesus and what He has done.  We need to remember the cross and the resurrection and resist becoming dulled to its power and promise.

The words of St. Paul to the Philippians (Philippians 2:6-11) and of Jesus to Nicodemus (John 3:13-17) are also meant for us today. They tell us that God loves us all. That includes those who are suffering.  In spite of what other people do to add to their suffering, God loves them.  And because God loves them, there is hope.  Suffering people who believe in God and appreciate His love have the great hope of salvation.  Human suffering is just that, it is human or finite.  Human suffering will come to an end as our lives here on earth come to an end.  But God’s bright promise of eternal life is for all who believe in Him. That includes those who are suffering.  Today as we work to relieve the suffering of those around us, let us also thank God for His love for all of us.