The Paper Cross Although my young daughter had spent three months in the hospital, her health continued to decline because of an undiagnosed illness. I prayed daily as I sat beside her bed, watching her cry in pain. One day, I went to the interfaith hospital chapel. As I knelt to pray, I felt a strong need to bow down before a cross, the symbol of power and faith and the assurance of Christ’s presence with me. But there was no cross in the chapel. So I tore a piece of paper into the shape of a cross and set it before me as I knelt to pray for my daughter. The cross represents the foundation of my Christian faith, the resurrected Jesus Christ. It reminds me that death has no victory and darkness has no sting; the cross guides me, empowers me, and equips me to face the valleys of my life. The cross, even a paper one marked with a mother’s tears, is evidence for me of the love of God, the power of Jesus, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift of love through Jesus Christ. (See 2 Cor. 9:15.) Mark 16:1-7 16:1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 16:2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 16:3 They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" 16:4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 16:5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 16:6 But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 16:7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you."
Posted on: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:44:45 +0000
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