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Christmas and the Cross
December 28, 2003 Homily
Feast of the Holy Family
Fr. George Smiga
Luke 2:41-52
Only two of the four Gospels tell us anything about the life of Jesus between the time of his birth and his baptism. Only the Gospels of Matthew and Luke describe his infancy and of his childhood. It is therefore, in these two Gospels that we find all the Christmas stories and all the descriptions of the Holy Family, whose feast we celebrate today. What is distinctive about these stories is that along with all the incidents of love and joy, there are clearly other incidents that involve trouble and pain. In these stories, we hear of a wicked king, who slaughters innocent children. We see Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt to protect the newly born child. We hear a prophecy which says that a sword of sorrow will pierce Mary's heart. In today's Gospel, we see the parents of Jesus in great anxiety, searching Jerusalem for three days to find their lost son.
What these stories are telling us is that wherever we have people, we will also have stress and difficulty. Wherever we have relationships, along with the love and joy, there will also be difficulty and pain. Wherever we have family, you can be sure that a cross of one kind or another will be close at hand.
The truth that we celebrate on Christmas is that God became human, that the Word became Flesh. In that truth, we recognize that Jesus, as He takes up our humanity, takes up our suffering and pain as well. The story of Christmas leads to the story of Easter. The birth that we celebrate at Christmas leads to the death that takes place on the cross. Therefore, although the poinsettias are still at the altar and your Christmas trees are still standing in your homes, it is not inappropriate for us today to reflect upon the reality of suffering, to reflect upon the mystery of the cross.
When we speak of the cross, it is important to remember that not all crosses are the same, because not all suffering is the same. There is redemptive suffering and then there is destructive suffering . Our ability to live the gospel depends upon us knowing the difference between the two.
As Christians, we believe that there is value in redemptive suffering. We believe that Jesus' suffering on the cross led to our salvation. We also believe that there are kinds of human suffering that are also redemptive. They are redemptive if they lead to life. So the anxiety and stress that parents feel towards their children can be redemptive if that leads them to express love and to give guidance to their children. The misunderstanding and hurt that takes place in a marriage can be redemptive if it leads to reconciliation and recommitment. The pain and disturbance that flow from our failures in life can be redemptive if it allows us to learn and to live differently. Redemptive pain is real pain. It hurts. Yet because it leads to life, because it leads to growth, it has value. In speaking of redemptive suffering we are called to imitate Jesus, to take up our cross and follow him.
Christians believe in the value of redemptive suffering. We do not, however, believe that there is value to destructive suffering, for destructive suffering does not lead to life. Destructive suffering results from violence or abuse, from irresponsibility or addiction or injustice. The Gospel does not call us to accept destructive suffering, but rather to avoid it. Whenever suffering is destructive, we should escape it, reject it. Destructive suffering is not a cross which Christ is asking us to carry.
Redemptive suffering is a cross that we are called to take up.
Destructive suffering is a cross that we are called to refuse.
The suffering we find in the stories of Jesus' birth is redemptive, because through the love and faith of Mary and Joseph it led to the maturation of Jesus and ultimately to our salvation. Accepting such suffering is part of the gospel. But whenever suffering is destructive, when it leads only to alienation and death, we should never believe that accepting such pain is doing God's will.
Therefore, today, on this Feast of the Holy Family, let us pray for the faith to accept redemptive suffering, the courage to reject destructive suffering and the wisdom to know the difference.
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