God’s love and wisdom in action
The cross of Christ confronts a love of power, often exercised with no regard for others.
On the third Sunday in Lent, we are challenged to reflect on how the cross of Christ confronts a love of power, often exercised with no regard for others.
We read in 1 Corinthians 1:18; “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
During this season of Lent, the sign of the cross takes on renewed importance for us, especially during this time of the pandemic. We are challenged to reflect deeply on what carrying our crosses means in discipleship, and on Good Friday the cross is central to our reflection on God’s love for a wounded world marred by sin, death, and the devil. Maybe some might still prefer a crown over the cross. We might be tempted to prefer strong leaders who can bulldoze their way and solve all our problems, but a suffering servant who dies on the cross in humility — and even humiliation — still shocks our notions of power. The cross confronts a love of power often brutally exercised with no regard for others. The cross — the cross of Christ — shows us the power of God’s love turning the world upside down with God’s wisdom.
Holy God, forgive our misuse of your gifts, that we may be transformed by your wisdom to manifest for others the mercy of our crucified and risen Lord.
Amen.
— First published on the Lutheran World Federation Facebook page
