When we proclaim the mystery of faith we often use the option: "By your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world." From what has Jesus set us free? Last week I shared with you the incident of my third grade teacher who told us to look at Jesus on the crucifix saying thank you for doing that for me. Some will immediately recognize what Jesus has done for us personally and others will freeze in search of an answer.

This is human nature standing in need of redemption but often unable or unwilling to recognize it. Another incident comes from the 1900 Boxer Rebellion in China when a crucifix was thrown on the ground and school children were told if they stepped on it or spat on it, they would be allowed to go home free; if not, they would be shot dead on the spot and their families as well.

The first seven students trampled the cross and went home free. The eighth young teenage girl walked around it, fell to her knees to kiss it as she was immediately executed. Which of those students were truly set free? The next 100 students followed the example of the eighth student. Nearly 30,000 children and parents gave their lives freely to God on that day rather than deny Him.

Today I would suspect that our society would say: "How foolish to give up your life for a piece of wood." Certainly if you're going to die for a cause it ought to be more than a piece of wood.

On Valentines Day we use heart as a symbol of love; but isn't there really more involved than a big heart shaped chocolate box. Isn't love about commitment and sacrifice, words which ring strange to the ears of our society?

In week one, we began with a reflection on our Baptismal relationship to the trinity which we most always express with the gesture of the cross. For it was there that Jesus ratified God's commitment of unconditional love.

Some people find difficult to believe in the love of God in a society that is filled with terrorism, rage, torture, physical emotional and sexual abuse, poverty, homelessness, and starvation. But God's revelation of unconditional love is not by escaping suffering; even though in Gethsemane Jesus prayed: "Father, even now, if there is another way; yet not my will but yours be done." Jesus has become partner and companion with us in our suffering. By saying yes to suffering and death he has made all things new.

The great challenge for us who wish to live a "Christian" life is to embrace the vertical beam as symbol of our lifting up as well as willingness to put down in loving worship for God; and on the horizontal beam our arms are stretched from east to west embracing in love and dignity every person who has ever lived.