The Cross as a Sign of Resurrection

From Catherine Maresca, one of the Founders of CFMS:

 

In all four Gospels the progression from Crucifixion to Resurrection is immediate. Jesus dies, he is buried, and then the passage announcing the resurrection begins.

 

In my office I have a beautiful gift of about 180 original drawings of the cross from the students at Christian Family Montessori School, where I have been a catechist for 30 years. They are full of color, nature, intricate designs, and symbols of our faith. They are full of joy.

 

In contrast, the most common images of and language about the cross in many of our churches today are grim depictions of the crucifixion, phrases like “Jesus died for our sins”, and complete disconnection from the resurrection. These are images and phrases that the students of CFMS may have been exposed to, yet they are not the images that emerge from their hearts after years of taking in and reflecting on the death and resurrection of Christ.

 

As three-year-old children in the atrium, they are introduced to the cross at a model altar. Paten and chalice, crucifix and candles are all placed on the small cloth covered table. But this crucifix does not have the suffering, dying Jesus on its face. Instead there is an image of the risen Lord. A cross from El Salvador depicts Jesus alive, dressed, and arms outstretched in blessing and welcome. He is risen!

 

When we present the Last Supper, the words of Jesus over the bread and wine are repeated, followed by a simple narrative: “the next day Jesus died on the cross (a traditional crucifix is placed on the small table), and on the third day Jesus rose (two candles are placed on the table and lit), and he remains with us always in the bread and in the wine.”

 

In these and other materials, the 3-6-year-old children hear again and again the simple announcement that Jesus died and is risen. We always tie together the death and resurrection of Christ when we speak of them. No explanation is given and no blame assigned. The children receive the announcement with simple faith and love.

 

The 6-9-year-old children bring their developing reasoning and moral concerns to the announcement. They do not doubt, but there are important questions to be explored. If Jesus is so good, why would anyone want to kill him? If Jesus is God, how is it possible for him to die? For these children the parables of the Good Shepherd and the Grain of Wheat from the Gospel of John are presented to help them explore these questions.

 

We also have a collection of crosses from various countries and times that can be traced. Most of these pair the shape of the cross with another symbol, such as a circle to proclaim God’s eternal life. Some have flowers or intricate designs to proclaim new life. Some have three lines together to indicate the Trinity. Again, explanations are not offered, but as the children trace and color these crosses again and again they consider the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ.

 

Now I’d like to consider the beautiful array of crosses given to me by the elementary children last year. It is striking to see both what is not included, and the symbols and colors paired with the cross in these images.

 

There is no blood, no sign of suffering, and no tears. Instead these 188 crosses include abstract designs, rainbows, plants, hearts, water, animals, light, fire, heaven, circles, elements, earth, Eucharist, and abstract concepts such as peace, love, beauty, grace, caring, elegance, sympathy knowledge, time and joy.

 

So we have children who have absorbed the language and images of the cross as a sign of death and resurrection, and also the language and images of the cross as a sign of suffering and death. But when we look at this art that comes from them we see that they are affirming the cross as a sign of resurrection – life in all its forms, water and light and color and shapes and all that is good.

 

In addition to this book of crosses one other day stands out in my mind when I consider children and the cross. There was a day when a mother of a child in the school died of cancer. She was well known to many of the children in our class of 6-9 year olds. During the morning after her death children came into the atrium one or two at a time and sat down with paper and drew page after page of very plain crosses. No body, no color, no extra shapes or details. Just brown crosses. The children said very little, but I saw in their crosses an acknowledgement that the passage into new life includes death, and the first hours of facing death are very stark. But the cross also was a source of comfort as they waited for the grace of resurrection to break in.

 

What are the implications of the children’s art for our approach to the cross with them (and each other)? At the heart of the good news of Christianity is the gift of the life of Jesus flowing into the resurrection. The cross cannot be a symbol of Christianity if it is not a sign of his death and resurrection as one event. Adults are more conscious of life’s challenges and suffering, and the aspect of the cross they connect to may be the suffering and death of Jesus. But children see the cross and connect it to the resurrection. Jesus is alive and within us, as well as in nature, one another, the Word, the bread and wine of Eucharist. The children can gently and joyfully draw all of us into the good news of the resurrection that follows suffering or death.

 

 

(This reflection is a chapter of Catherine’s upcoming book, Good News and Violence.)