The Wisdom of the Cross

A Reflection on

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Presentation FormatPresentation Format

The Gospel reading and commentariesThe Gospel reading and commentaries Reflection and Sharing Reflection and Sharing Passionist SpiritualityPassionist Spirituality Pope Benedict Encyclical “Pope Benedict Encyclical “Spe SalviSpe Salvi”” An American ExperienceAn American Experience Open discussionOpen discussion

1 Corinthian 1: 18-251 Corinthian 1: 18-25

The message of the cross is foolishness to those The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God… it is the power of God…

……For the foolishness of God is wiser than human For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.human strength.

CommentariesCommentaries

The Cross is a scandal and a source of The Cross is a scandal and a source of embarrassment for the early Christiansembarrassment for the early Christians

Paul emphasizes the Cross because it Paul emphasizes the Cross because it defies human logic and with the Cross the defies human logic and with the Cross the Gospel will not be “emptied of its power.”Gospel will not be “emptied of its power.”

Accepting a crucified savior means that Accepting a crucified savior means that Christians must look at their society in a Christians must look at their society in a completely new way completely new way

Reflection:Christ died for our sins

Reflection:Christ died for our sins

Passionist SpiritualityPassionist Spirituality

• Passionist Constitutions, #3Passionist Constitutions, #3– We are aware that the Passion of Christ We are aware that the Passion of Christ

continues in this world until He comes in continues in this world until He comes in glory… We wish to share in the distress of glory… We wish to share in the distress of all, especially those who are poor and all, especially those who are poor and neglected;neglected;

– The power of the Cross, which is the wisdom The power of the Cross, which is the wisdom of God, gives us strength to discern and of God, gives us strength to discern and remove the causes of human suffering.remove the causes of human suffering.

Passionist SpiritualityPassionist Spirituality

• St. Paul of the Cross, letter 12/12/1769St. Paul of the Cross, letter 12/12/1769– I received your letter in which I learn the I received your letter in which I learn the

present state in which you are finding dryness, present state in which you are finding dryness, abandonment, and internal and external pain. abandonment, and internal and external pain.

– Since these things have come from divine love, Since these things have come from divine love, it is necessary that you pass through the path it is necessary that you pass through the path of pure naked suffering so that… your soul is of pure naked suffering so that… your soul is well purified and clean of all those well purified and clean of all those imperfections that are beyond the vision of our imperfections that are beyond the vision of our eyes. eyes.

– Then you may fly high and reposeThen you may fly high and reposeon the heavenly bosom that is pure on the heavenly bosom that is pure love and is God the Highest Good, love and is God the Highest Good, who is all love and charitywho is all love and charity

Passionist SpiritualityPassionist Spirituality

• The Experience of SufferingThe Experience of Suffering– Suffering is a common experience for us allSuffering is a common experience for us all– Suffering will cause us to reassess our livesSuffering will cause us to reassess our lives– How shall we respond to sufferingHow shall we respond to suffering

•We can either be open to the experience and We can either be open to the experience and allow ourselves to be sensitize orallow ourselves to be sensitize or

•We can close ourselves off and be desensitize We can close ourselves off and be desensitize to ourselves and the world.to ourselves and the world.

Passionist SpiritualityPassionist Spirituality

• ““The memory of the Passion is a transformative The memory of the Passion is a transformative influence on suffering enhancing influence on suffering enhancing its role as a component of the its role as a component of the compassion whose activity can compassion whose activity can be central in the process of be central in the process of becoming a moral person.”becoming a moral person.”

• ““For suffering within a Christian For suffering within a Christian life to have this potential for life to have this potential for compassion, the memory of the compassion, the memory of the Passion can be a nurturing Passion can be a nurturing resource.” resource.”

Passionist SpiritualityPassionist Spirituality

• The Compassionate PersonThe Compassionate Person– A person can be transformed by suffering and emerge A person can be transformed by suffering and emerge

with Compassionwith Compassion– Compassion addresses the suffering of others, in a Compassion addresses the suffering of others, in a

way comparable to one’s own experience of suffering. way comparable to one’s own experience of suffering. – Compassion unifies us with others who are sufferingCompassion unifies us with others who are suffering– ““Compassion in the Christian setting is love with a Compassion in the Christian setting is love with a

facility for addressing suffering. It is a suffering love”facility for addressing suffering. It is a suffering love”– ““Compassion is charity before the suffering of others”Compassion is charity before the suffering of others”

Spe SalviSpe Salvi

• Pope Benedict XVI wrote his second encyclical in 2007.

• An encyclical is a circular letter from the Pope to all the Bishops and the Catholic faithful that discusses a teaching of the Universal Church.

• The 2007 encyclical, Spe Salvi,discusses the Church’s theology on the topic of Christian Hope.

Spe SalviSpe Salvi

• Suffering is part of our human existence• We can try to limit suffering, to fight

against it, but we cannot eliminate it.• When we attempt to avoid suffering by

withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt… we drift into a life of emptiness, in which… the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater.

Spe SalviSpe Salvi

• In the history of humanity, it was the Christian faith that had the particular merit of bringing forth within man a new and deeper capacity for these kinds of suffering that are decisive for his humanity.

• Humanity is worth so much to God that he himself became man in order to suffer with us in an utterly real way—in flesh and blood—as is revealed to us in the account of Jesus' Passion. Hence in all human suffering we are joined by one who experiences and carries that suffering with us; hence con-solatio is present in all suffering, the consolation of God's compassionate love—and so the star of hope rises

Spe SalviSpe Salvi

• The true measure of humanity is essentially determined in relationship to suffering and to the sufferer. This holds true both for the individual and for society. A society unable to accept its suffering members and incapable of helping to share their suffering and to bear it inwardly through “com-passion” is a cruel and inhuman society.

• To suffer with the other and for others; to suffer for the sake of truth and justice; to suffer out of love and in order to become a person who truly loves—these are fundamental elements of humanity

The Wisdom of the Cross:The Wisdom of the Cross:an American experiencean American experience

• John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Robert F. Kennedy was inconsolable for a time.

• RFK found comfort with a simple quote from the Greek philosopher.

• April 4, 1968 Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. RFK was campaigning for the Presidency in Indianapolis where there was a considerable African-American community. At the news RFK shared his quote and consoled the community.

• That evening riots were taking place throughout the U.S. except Indianapolis which remained peaceful and calm.

He who learns must suffer. He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart. And by drop upon the heart. And in our own despair, against in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful Grace of God.by the awful Grace of God. - - AeschylusAeschylus

Thank You for your Attention and Consideration