The Cross is Our Hope

In the book of Genesis (3:15), we read that Adam and Eve lived in paradise--- a garden of delight created by God. There was no sickness, sorrow, pain or death. God prescribed only one rule: “…from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you must not eat…” Abiding by this admonition would demonstrate their love for, and trust in, God. By freely conforming their wills to God, they would more closely resemble God, in whose image and likeness they were created. But they fell for the lie that they would “be like God” by opposing His will. To prevent them from forever living in this now fallen state, by eating of the Tree of Life, God expelled them from the garden.

Ever since, fallen man has had a desire to “get back to the garden.” For those who believe in the redemption of Jesus, that is Heaven. And getting there requires loving God: “If you love Me, keep my Commandments,” (John 14:15) and, “If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) This means repentance for sin, amendment of life, and sacrificial virtue--- that we might follow Him to the Promised Land that awaits after death: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor 2:9)

Still, there is an inclination, among believers and non-believers alike, to “be like God” and to decide for oneself what is good and evil. There is a desire to create an earthly paradise, a garden of peace and harmony, here and now.

This tendency plays out in many ways: For the rich, it might mean buying an island somewhere and decking it out just the way one wants. It might mean establishing an ephemeral utopian community such as those established by the Shakers or Owenites in early America (see Heavens on Earth: Utopian Communities in America, by Mark Holloway). It might mean establishing a murderous Marxist dystopia, such as those of Lenin, Mao, Castro, Pol Pot, or more recently, Hugo Chavez’s socialist government in Venezuela. Chavez said in 1999: “Every day I am more convinced that socialism is the Kingdom of God on Earth.” In a recent interview by Ami Horowitz, a woman in Venezuela said that she begins standing in line for the grocery store at 2:00 a.m. At 8:00 a.m., a bus arrives and the store opens. Government employees and their friends get off the bus and go in first. When Horowitz asks a young man what he would say to Americans who want socialism, he said he would tell them “Try living here… come and find out for yourself.” The U.S. government has an advisory on travel to Venezuela. Advisory #1: “Prepare a will.” 

In the 1960’s and 70’s, there was the “back to the land” movement and experiments with communal living. In 1972, I visited one of these communes in Hawaii--- Taylor Camp, on the island of Kauai. I was only there a few days, but a new arrival wanted his “brother” to let him move into a small shack that the resident had built. The owner of the shack told him to take a hike. It seemed more like group camping than a garden paradise. I visited another on the island of Maui near Makena Beach. Upon arrival, I heard that a girl had been sexually assaulted the day before. A resident asked me if he could pick up anything for me in town. I said yes, and gave him $10 to pay for a few dollars of food. He brought me back my food, but no change. After all, I was his “brother.” No paradise here either. I left the next day. I later read that before the arrival of Europeans that Hawaiians engaged in warfare and human sacrifice. Lesson: there is no escape from the effects of Original Sin.

Nonetheless, communities, and even nations, can be more safe and harmonious depending on the Christian virtue of their residents. I unexpectedly encountered this when I visited Thomas Aquinas College, near Santa Paula California, in 2012. When I was there, I was struck by students leaving their doors unlocked, their valuables lying about, and their politeness: “Mr. Bird, may I bus your dishes, or pick up anything for you in the kitchen?” It was, in a small way, like entering another world. The lesson is that, the more we personally follow the prescriptions of the Divine Lawgiver, the more salubrious the effects on our communities and nation. “Crux spes nostra est.”   The cross is our hope!

Please support your station. You may do this by telling others and encouraging them to watch the station, by placing program guides in your parish’s information rack, through prayer, offering to volunteer and/or a financial contribution if possible. If you cannot financially support the station, no problem. Thank you for watching!