The Holy Cross: Unfairness, Injustice, Grief, and Pain

Today, 14 September, is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. 


This is the day when Christians disabuse themselves of any notions that life is in any way fair, just, or free of grief or pain. 


This is the day when we must accept the fact that, if there is any fairness, justice, healing, or restoration, it is happening by way of one or the other of two things: 


by a miraculous intervention by a God committed to life and liberation; 


or by an act (or more likely acts) of courageous resistance against whoever holds a vested interest in maintaining structures of unfairness, injustice, cruelty, and suffering. 


In the shadow of the cross, all evidence points away from there being fairness or justice in this life... 


But against all evidence- and there's a lot of it- I cling to a belief in a God of life and liberation... 


Don't ask me why... I simply do. I must. Leave it at that.


I also cling to a belief in the power of people to change what is unfair, unjust, grievous, and destructive. 


Holy God, make a way though there appears to be none...


... and give us the strength to make it happen...