On March 6, 2007, the World Youth Day cross was welcomed by the diocese of Cubao. Young people from the different suffragan dioceses of Manila gathered together in music, dance, sharing and liturgical celebration to rejoice in the visit of the cross.
The title of the event, WOODSTUCK, made me think. It was in obvious reference to Woodstock – a gathering of yuppies in the 1970’s that celebrates with a marathon of music and party. It is also associated with the popular talent search on TV, Starstruck, with a creative twist. I guess the “wood” refers to the cross and “struck” refers to what the cross can do to those who will accept it.
But who would be willing to be hit by a cross? Who in his or her right mind would accept to be “woodstruck”? We, humans naturally run away from the cross. We avoid hardship and pain as much as we can, but the event was an invitation not to run away from the cross but to let oneself be “struck” by it. What does the wood of the cross bring us?
The cross is where the Son of Man died. In Jesus, the cross which was an instrument of shameful death was transformed into an instrument of a surprising rebirth. When we run away from the cross, when we turn our backs from it, we are running away from a possibility of growth, of life, and maturity. I’m not saying that we should all seek the cross, no. But the road to genuine happiness and lasting joy is necessarily pass through the cross. We do not have to look for it, to burden ourselves of it. To follow the Lord is to take up the cross daily.
To allow ourselves be “woodstruck” or to accept the cross of Christ [i.e. tamaan ng krus ni Kristo] is to be transformed into hopeful and joyful citizens of the Kingdom passing through this world. No amount of suffering and pain can take this joy and hope away for the cross has already been transformed in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Kapagsineryoso mo ang pagsunod kay Kristo na ipinako sa krus sigurado tatamaan ka! Tinamaan ka na ba?
