Fourth Sunday of Lent 3/18/12

God’s plan involved a cross. Just look around at all the crosses. I wear a cross as a symbol of my calling during the time we come together to worship God. We have two crosses with Christ on them. We have one cross that is empty of the form of Christ. We have along the wall Christ carrying the cross as he made his journey to Golgotha. We have four crosses outside; one on the bell tower, plus two more on the walls of our church and one more cross high above the trees. Crosses and statues of Christ on the cross are everywhere where Christianity is practiced. Some are world famous like the Christ the Redeemer which overlooks one of the most corrupt and sin filled cities in the world Rio De Janeiro. When I see a picture of that Christ arms outstretched as if on a cross I always want to look closer and see if Christ is weeping. Others like the little crosses on a church lawn of a Baptist church here in Hattiesburg which represent the lives of babies that were aborted in day are hardly noticed. Jesus was lifted up on the cross. Jesus was lifted up from the grave. Jesus was lifted up in his Ascension. Jesus today is lifted up in God’s Word and the Sacraments. We celebrate his being lifted up with wonderful hymns such as, “Lift High the Cross” and “My Faith Looks Up to Thee.”