THE CROSS EXPOSES EVIL, TOO.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT. YEAR B.
March 22, 2009.
(First reading: 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23) (Psalm 137:1-6)
(Second reading: Ephesians 2:4-10) (Gospel: John 3:14-21)


THE CROSS EXPOSES EVIL, TOO.

When the Son of Man was "lifted up" on a cross (John 3:14), he exposed the injustice and harm the evil-doers had inflicted upon him. The Son of Man "is lifted up" so that every human being may see the victim hanging on the cross.

The cross exposes the evil in the world:
1. The cross exposes the greatest injustice humanity has ever witnessed: The one who is all goodness, all righteousness is subjected to the most horrendous torture and death man can inflict upon man.

Our world today continues to see the victims of oppression, misery, poverty, disease and death.

2. The cross exposes those who do evil. Those who nailed the Son of Man on the cross did it in the name and with the support of what they considered to be a "legitimate" political system and a "righteous" religious establishment.

Similarly, the injustice inflicted upon countless human beings in our world today is done in the name of "legitimate" powers whose evil nature is thus exposed.

Once Jesus "is lifted up", evil can no longer hide, evil can no longer disguise itself under the cover of false "righteousness" or false "justice" or false "freedom".

Twenty-one centuries after the Son of Man was lifted up on the cross, injustice, war and evil continue to be present in our world because - as the gospel explains - "people prefer darkness over light, because their works [the works of injustice, mutual destruction, wars] are evil" (John 3: 19).

The evil-doers are still accepted by many because "everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed" (John 3:20).

The revealing light of the cross continues to shine through "whoever lives the truth [true liberation, justice and peace universal]"; because "whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God" (John 3:21).