In that very crucifixion God has absorbed the contradictions of historic existence into Himself. Thus Christianity transmutes the tragedy of history into something which is not tragedy. God is revealed as not only the ground but as the goal of human existence and man s rebellion against God is proved to be an abortive effort which cannot finally prevail. At Religion Online . Those who dream of a better life and try to avoid the Cross as a way, and those who hope for a Christ and attempt to exclude the Crucified, have no knowledge of the mystery of God and of man.
People today live in a dream world.
We need this text's Reality Check, regarding death and resurrection. It doesn't mean going out and looking for crosses to bear. And yet I think it would be a mistake to dismiss these words as possessed of a purely historical interest and having no bearing on our own life as followers of Christ. Life must be lost, Jesus responds. Commentary and Homily, 1996.