Look at the Cross

In the reading from the Book of Numbers this morning, we hear God tell the Israelites that simply looking at the seraph serpent will heal them. An unknown author penned a poem to which I turn often that takes this notion and applies it to the Cross:

Look at the Cross
Author Unknown

If you would like to know God, look at the cross.
If you would like to love God, look at the cross.
If you would like to serve God, look at the cross.
If you hope for eternal happiness, look at the cross.
If you wonder what you are worth, look at the cross.
If you wonder how much God loves you, look at the cross.
If you wonder how much God tries to prevent you from the yawning jaws of Hell, look at the cross.
If you wonder how much God will help you to save your immortal soul, look at the cross.
If you wonder how much you should forgive others, look at the cross.
If you wonder how much your faith demands of you, in humility, poverty, charity, meekness, and every virtue, look at the cross.
If you want to learn unselfishness and generosity, look at the cross.
If you wonder how far your own unselfishness should go to bring others to Christ, look at the cross.
If you want to understand the need for self-denial and mortification, look at the cross.
If you wish to live well, look at the cross.
If you wish to die well, look at the cross.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator