There's Just Something about the Name...

Here in Santiago, one can find physical representations of the crucifixion everywhere. They are obviously in all of the cathedrals, but you can also find them hanging from people's necks, hanging from the rearview mirrors in vehicles, on display in store windows, for sale on the streets, and even on display in beautiful parks, such as the one you see here. Each of them look a little different but they are all the same general concept: Jesus dying on the cross. But if you look too quickly, that's all we will see: Jesus dying on the cross. Catholicism is prevalent here - 70 percent prevalent. And whenever Catholics see a crucifix, they stop before it and pray. Some even kiss the feet of Jesus or light a candle next to it in remembrance of whatever prayer they are thankful that Jesus answered. And some people... They even weep before it. *gasp* And it's not weird when they do that! They weep because they see something beautiful - something so beautiful that there is no other thing to do but weep! 

When was the last time you stopped your fast pace of life to look at the cross? When was the last time you weeped before a crucifix? When was the last time you looked at the crucifix as more than just Jesus dying on it? When was the last time you looked at it as beautiful? As something so beautiful that you weeped before it? As something so beautiful that you became so overwhelmed with what Jesus has done for you that you pledged to know Christ? That you pledged to know the power of his resurrection? That you pledged to know the fellowship of what it means to share in his sufferings? That you pledged to become like Him in His death - dying in love for the grace of others? That you pledged to attain to the resurrection of the dead? But seriously. When was the last time you looked at the crucifix and didn't just see a representation of what Jesus did for you, but instead, you saw Jesus? 

You see, I speak for myself right now as I type this. There are times when I become too caught up in my own life that I fail to see the beauty in the death of Jesus. I become so involved within myself that I don't see what I was meant to see. I lose sight of Jesus and gain sight of worldly matters, instead. I pray that I rediscover who He is. I pray that I turn from my own selfish ways, and whenever I see a crucifix, I pray I take the time, regardless of what is going on around me, to stop, weep before the Lord, and thank Him of what He has done for me. 

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." 

--Philippians 3:10-11