Jesus at the Crossroads

Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves; on the town garbage heap; at a crossroads so cosmopolitan that they had to write his title in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek (or should we say in English, in Bantu and in Afrikaans?) at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse and soldiers gamble. Because that is where he died. And that is what he died about. And that is where church [members] should be and what church [member]ship should be about.
—George F. MacLeod, quoted on Richard Pulley’s home page at The Intersection

We have a cross between two candles on our communion table. It’s important that I never forget that cross is there to point me beyond my own experience. It points beyond the church walls, out into the street, up and down Rivermont Avenue, one arm toward downtown with its inner city challenges and the other out toward the mountains and rural poverty.

The cross on the table reminds me that the church at its best lives at the crossroads. Whether we’re serving a meal at Gateway with men working to overcome addictions or hammering together wheelchair ramps for the homes of people with disabilities, we’re where Jesus lived and died. When we’re picking up trash on our adopted section of the street, or paying a power bill for a single mom, or assembling diapers and sleepers into Baby Kits, we’re where we belong.

We’re not sent only to nice people who pray, sing, and think like us, even though we're sent to them, too. We won’t necessarily find Jesus at a fancy dinner party unless we go out behind the kitchen where he’s taking out the trash. But we’ll find him. Because we’re not an imperial church. We know full well where he was crucified. We remember by whom. And, just as importantly, we remember by whom he was raised.

Along the way, I wish you God’s peace on today’s stage of your Lenten spiritual journey. May Christ’s companionship bless you with confidence for the day, comfort you in trouble, and put a spring of joy in your step.