The Cross as the Wisdom and Power of God

In today's first reading, 1 Cor 1: 17-25, Saint Paul reminds us of the meaning of the cross  as "the power of God."  "[W]e proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."

Let's ponder that message, especially the statement that Christ is the power and the wisdom of God, who on the cross appeared as the foolishness of God and God's weakness.  If we stand beneath the cross as unbelievers, we might join those who mocked him and say something like: "The  Messiah who is to save us! Look at him! He does not even appear to have human form. He looks like a worm squirming on that cross!" As Christians with a strong faith, we fall down on our knees, knowing that this is God in the process of saving us. We hear Jesus say: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing." We witness Jesus responding to the thief who asked to be remembered in Jesus' eternal Kingdom:   "This day you will be with me in Paradise."  As we gave upon the cross, we see the weakness of God as incomprehensible strength and the foolishness of God as wisdom! In our own sufferings, when viewed from a position of faith, we experience God's power as we rely upon God to give us strength.  When weak and relying upon God, we come to know the wisdom of God working within us to draw us to Himself upon the cross!

In speaking to someone whose child committed suicide and walking through that horrible darkness with that person, I learnt that through her child's suicide she developed an intimacy with God that she does not believe would ever had been possible without that tragedy--it took years, an abundance of tears, and incredible pain to come to that realization and that closeness to God.  Unbelievers would probably bulk at that testimony, asking how could one ever see a blessing in the suicide of a loved one.  From the perspective of faith, an individual who is leaning on God, trusting God, seeking God, clinging to God, and having confidence in God, will, in bearing the cross of Christ, be given incredible graces.

I believe! Do you?