Look at a cross.
It is somewhat like a "t" in shape. What makes it special?
It is acknowledged as the symbol of Christianity, but crosses can be seen all over. What makes it more than just a symbol among symbols? A peace sign, a palm, a crescent, a cross--what makes it special? Jesus, God the Son, died on one. True, he rose from the grave, and people use that as a reason for the empty cross.
Look at the crucifix.
It is an image of suffering. It is personal. What God dies for his people? Our God. He did rise from the tomb, but the empty tomb is not the symbol of Christianity even though it shows God's victory in a glorious way. The crucifix shows God's love. It is a heroic love that suffers at the hands of those he came to save. This love he tells us to express; he calls us to love as he did. It is not a call to comfortableness, it is a call to take up our cross and follow him. We will suffer and die, though not all in the same way.
When we look to the empty cross and are reminded of Jesus victory, it is tempting to become complacent--he suffered so that I don't have to. The victory has been won, what more do I need? It is too easy to seek merely temporal comfort for ourselves and others, but that is not the reason we were called. That should not be our goal.
Look to the crucifix, look at Jesus' suffering. He suffered and died to redeem us from the clutches of the Evil One. He has won the victory, but battles are still being fought.
Where is your cross? Are you ready to die for love? Are you ready to follow our Lord?
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