Were You There When They Crucified the Lord?
Focus: Chiapas, Mexico and All the Suffering People of the World Readings: Isaiah 52: 13-53:12, Psalm 22, John 18:1-19:42, Hebrews 10:16-25 The obvious answer to this question is, of course, no – none of us were there literally or historically when the Roman Empire crucified Jesus. That was one easy question. Jon Sobrino, Jesuit priest and liberation theologian from San Salvador, implores us to take a closer, more critical look at what this question implies in our lives as people of faith. I am reading “The Principal of Mercy Taking the Crucified People from the Cross”* and Sobrino’s reflection on liberation theology again reminds me of my humanity and more particularly why I volunteer with the Christian Peacemaker Teams as a person of Christian faith. Sobrino leads us to the foot of the cross. Not to the cross of the historical Jesus rather to the cross of the crucified peoples of our world. This might seems surprising – to use the image of crucifixion and cross in our modern age. Yet, when I was working in Chiapas, Mexico a revelation of God’s love was offered to me through the lives, struggle and hope of the Mayan people of Acteal, Tenejapa, Xoyep and other communities. These people are indeed the crucified Christ – being crucified by unjust systems, global greed and racism to name a few. The ‘North’, where I come from, is the power center – the Empire- backing many of the unjust systems that brought the Mayan people to their suffering of their constant crucifixion. One day, while in San Cristobal de las Casas, a Tracy Hughes Tracy is serving as a long-term volunteer. She serves with the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) based in Barrancabermeja, Colombia. She is currently serving in Israel-Palestine.
Tracy is serving as a long-term volunteer. She serves with the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) based in Barrancabermeja, Colombia. She is currently serving in Israel-Palestine.
Focus: Chiapas, Mexico and All the Suffering People of the World
Readings: Isaiah 52: 13-53:12, Psalm 22, John 18:1-19:42, Hebrews 10:16-25
The obvious answer to this question is, of course, no – none of us were there literally or historically when the Roman Empire crucified Jesus. That was one easy question.
Jon Sobrino, Jesuit priest and liberation theologian from San Salvador, implores us to take a closer, more critical look at what this question implies in our lives as people of faith. I am reading “The Principal of Mercy Taking the Crucified People from the Cross”* and Sobrino’s reflection on liberation theology again reminds me of my humanity and more particularly why I volunteer with the Christian Peacemaker Teams as a person of Christian faith.
Sobrino leads us to the foot of the cross. Not to the cross of the historical Jesus rather to the cross of the crucified peoples of our world. This might seems surprising – to use the image of crucifixion and cross in our modern age. Yet, when I was working in Chiapas, Mexico a revelation of God’s love was offered to me through the lives, struggle and hope of the Mayan people of Acteal, Tenejapa, Xoyep and other communities. These people are indeed the crucified Christ – being crucified by unjust systems, global greed and racism to name a few. The ‘North’, where I come from, is the power center – the Empire- backing many of the unjust systems that brought the Mayan people to their suffering of their constant crucifixion.
One day, while in San Cristobal de las Casas, a friend showed me a hand painted ceramic cross. This cross was painted in brilliant colors, with a landscape of the mountains of southern Mexico. Most surprising and revealing was that in the place of Jesus was a Mayan woman with her arms outstretched on the cross bars of the cross and her body hanging there on the cross. The woman was painted in great detail with the traditional clothes of woman from Tenejapa. The second cross was of a Mayan man in the same crucified position. He was panted in great detail with the traditional outfit of Amantanango.
There it was in full color: The revelation that the suffering peoples of the world are being crucified and that to live as a Christian is to bring them down from the cross of their suffering, poverty and death. Sobrino emphasizes that this is the work of theology, the Church, the wider church (groups like CPT) and the individual Christian. To take down the suffering people of the world from the cross is to take love-action, or mercy-action, or justice-action – bringing alive the will of God in action in human community and sharing in revealing the Reign of God on earth.
As we reflect on Jesus hanging on the cross, his suffering and final death, let us not stay in history but reflect on what is our part in taking the suffering people of the world down from their cross of suffering, poverty, and death. You might have special interest in a certain part of the world or have worked or been in ministry with some of the crucified people of the world – how do you understand your involvement in their lives and struggle? How do you understand the mystery of their and your salvation as part of God’s will and reign? Is it a personal salvation of getting to heaven for eternity or could it be a corporal salvation of transforming this world into the Reign of God on earth- a reign of love, mercy, compassion and justice?
Prayer: Merciful and compassionate God, help us to not get lost in the suffering of Jesus without considering the suffering people of today’s world. God guide us in exploring our lives and in understanding our motivations for works of justice. Are they lead by your love, compassion and mercy-your vision of human community within your kingdom? Convict us and strengthen us for the work of Christ and his church to work for the transformation of unjust systems that crucify millions of people across the world to systems rooted in your love and justice, and in your mercy and compassion. Amen.
Tracy Hughes