Popular Mexican legends tell of the end of time, that Jesus returned for the final judgment.
Since nearly 2,000 years had passed since his last human experience, Jesus had to adapt to modernity.
God the Father placed Jesus in the middle of Mexico City, but Jesus had no idea what cars were or how to cross streets. Confused and very disoriented, he only heard the shouts of angry people yelling at him to get out of the way.
Amid the chaos, Jesus tried to avoid the cars, but unfortunately, they hit him.
The accident was enough to stop traffic, and several people stopped to see how they could help.
Jesus was conscious, but confused. Then someone shouted:
“Call the cross!”
And Jesus immediately stood up, dusting himself off, and saying:
“No, no, no. No need, I’m fine now, I’m fine now!
This Mexican joke made us laugh out loud on some of the nights of one of the retreats before confirmation. We would gather at the retreat house to tell jokes in front of a bonfire.
Arturo, the group coordinator, was about six years older than us. We were high school students, and he was about to graduate as an engineer. His patience with us was completely admirable. And I know this better than before, as I have been in his position coordinating groups for confirmation.
There were some in the group who were more inquisitive than others, and also some who were there more out of necessity than out of desire. Arturo listened to everyone, and when there was someone who didn’t want to talk, Arturo would ask them a question directly. Sometimes he succeeded in getting an answer, and other times he didn’t.
However, this joke, which made us burst out laughing, led to a very interesting, and even more challenging conversation.
In that stage of rebellion, we all wanted to take on the world. We had grand plans to find “the perfect formula” for how to live life without difficulties.
“Good luck!”
Arturo said.
Later in the conversation, a very interesting question arose:
“Does God want us to suffer? Why did God want Jesus to die?”
And you, have you ever asked yourself a similar question?
To our despair and impatience, Arturo didn’t give us very clear answers, but instead responded with more questions.
Frankly, many of us weren’t satisfied by those questions, nor by the answer that it was necessary for Jesus to die on the cross.
It wasn’t until many years later, with life experience, that we discovered that suffering is included. It’s not a punishment, but part of the life experience.
In the story of the Passion, Jesus holds the wood of the Cross on the way to Calvary. And already at the moment of the crucifixion, it is the cross that sustains him.
What does this tell you?
When I was a child and saw the larger-than-life images in churches of a suffering and exhausted Jesus, I frankly was scared.
But it is only the person who has suffered who can identify with the pain of others.
Jesus suffers with you, and with me. Shoulder to shoulder, and not from afar.
If there is anyone who understands and has experienced suffering, it is Jesus.
No one killed Jesus; Jesus surrendered himself. Could we see the cross as a place of surrender?
And Jesus, by surrendering his life, received the resurrection.
In all the times I have read and heard the account of the Passion, Jesus continues to die. And also to rise again.
If the Spirit leads you, share with Jesus the carpenter the weight of your cross. And perhaps, you will choose to carry it to receive resurrection.
Marisol
P.S. We can hear about the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year/Cycle C.
