Agonizing Crucifix II

I had planned to mark some of my CCD tests at lunch today, so I brought my CCD bag into work with me.  I still had the Agonizing Crucifix with me, and one of my coworkers saw Jesus' head popping over the top.  

He sorta recoiled while asking "What kind of cross is that?"


I pulled him out, happy to share one of my prized crucifixes.  I said, "This is an Agonizing Crucifix.  It portrays Jesus more realistically than the clean, pristine corpus models you see on most crucifixes."

I hadn't really thought anything of it, but he was legitimately disturbed by it.  I left him to ponder the crucifix while I made my coffee.  When I got back, the crucifix was on my desk and I thought nothing more of it as I got to work answering the thousand e-mails in my folder.

A few moments later, a mini crowd had gathered at my desk.  Everyone wanted to see the "controversial crucifix" I had brought in that was apparently "too much," "distasteful" or "unnecessary."  

I tried to explain the reason such a crucifix is a great reminder to have handy - ESPECIALLY during Lent.  It's important to remember all that went into Christ's Sacrifice, but my coworkers unanimously agreed that such a graphic display of torture was pointless and horrid.  One went so far as to cut out a robe for Christ to drape over His Wounds.

I took no offense to their reaction, mind you.  In fact, I pointed out that their reaction is exactly what it should have been.  We SHOULD be unsettled by such a visual.  We SHOULD be uncomfortable to witness the agony His Body endured for us.  To witness the effects of our personal sins on the One Who came to save us... it should be an experience from which your eyes wish to turn away from.  

Your soul, however, should be what pulls you back.  Your heart should be what directs your eyes back to His Sacrifice because your heart and soul, both lovingly created by the Father of all, beckons them with His Love that pours out unceasingly from the Body of His Son.  

His Sacrifice was not pretty - it was not easy - and it was not the beatific scenes imagined by our Renaissance masters.  His Sacrifice was gritty, dirty, painful and evil... and it was completely borne faithfully with unimaginable Love.  

Blessed be the Lord.

And if anyone is curious like my coworkers were about my willingness to show this to my own son, Vincent has already seen it.  He knows Jesus had "lots of boo boos" because He fought the bad guy and He won so we can be together in Heaven one day.  Jesus is our hero.

I don't have it hanging in Vincent's nursery, but I don't hide from him Christ's sacrifice, either. As he gets older, I'll obviously explain more, but I think he's got a pretty good handle on the reason for Jesus' boo boos.  

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