One of the most paradoxical images in any of the world’s spiritual traditions is that of the crucified Christ. I say this is paradoxical because in the crucifixion we have the marriage of God and chaos, God and suffering, and God and tragedy. The egoic mind wants to dictate where God can and cannot be found, but the image of the crucified Christ breaks through all such dualistic thinking. Christ crucified proclaims the truth that God is to be found in all things, in the best and worst of times, and even in life’s most tragic circumstances. This is actually a profoundly hopeful truth because it tells us that we are never alone, or outside of God’s loving purposes. The power of this sacred image is particularly important as we face the world’s chaos and conflict. Why? God is with us, God is suffering with us, God is dying with us, and through it all, God is transforming us! Again, the dualistic mind finds it hard, even impossible, to bring darkness and light together. But the open and prayerful heart can intuit God’s presence in all things and find the sustenance of God’s love even in the midst of profound suffering. Keep your heart open, pray, be wise in your behavior, and allow God to strengthen you in any and all circumstances. Meditate on Yogananda’s inspired words, “God is love. His plan for creation is rooted only in love.”
Jesus, Guruji,
Your cross tells me
That you meet me exactly where I am,
And that I am never alone or
Outside of your loving purpose.
