Trust me, my friend, I'm not forgetting anything regarding Jesus' sacrifice for us.
Not so sure about that. You may want to consider what it says in 1Cor.1:23 where St. Paul says, "...but we preach Christ crucified..." Why does Paul preach Christ crucified? Doesn't he know Jesus has been raised from the dead? Of course he does! But, he knows that it is through the power of the crucified Christ on the cross that the bonds of sin and death are broken. As Paul says in verse 24, Christ crucified is the "power of God".
Also, as I posted before, and you failed to comment on, we have 1Cor. 2:2, where St.Paul says... "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Now don't you think Paul knew that Jesus had risen from the dead? Of course, he did. Paul preaches Christ crucified because an empty cross has no power. The cross that bears the beaten, battered, and bloodied body of Jesus Christ, however, that cross is the "power of God". This is why, we "keep Jesus on the cross," because we, too, preach Christ crucified. The Crucifix reminds us not only of God's power, but also His love for us - giving His only begotten Son up for suffering and death.
The difference between us is that I focus on the empty Cross which signifies Jesus' suffering, death and most importantly, His Resurrection, whereas you focus on the crucifix which signifies His suffering and death.
Lol... With a statement such as this, I can only conclude that your so-called knowledge of Catholicism comes from other sources other than the Catholic Church herself. It seems to me , you are suggesting that Jesus' Crucifixion is a past event only, and displaying Jesus on a Cross supposedly suggests that we Catholics want to keep Jesus dead or continually dying as if we want to deny His Resurrection. News flash Bub....Catholics do not deny Jesus' Resurrection. If we did, there wouldn't be church on Sundays to commemorate Jesus' Resurrection, nor the celebration of Easter!
Focusing on Jesus' triumphant victory over sin and death brings with it a liberating mindset of freedom, victory, power and royalty!
Yes, but also keep in mind, although Jesus is risen and no longer on the Cross, what Jesus gave us on the Cross 2000 years ago He continues to give us this day. Jesus gives us His passionate and unconditional endless love, His infinite mercy, His shed blood and salvation, His friendship, and new life in God. We cannot rise in Christ to new life without first dying with Christ on the Cross. Everything Jesus gives to us is through the Cross. In our Christian journey on the way Home to the Lord, we, like Jesus, our Merciful Savior and Role Model to faith in God, carry our cross. We Catholics not only preach Christ Risen, but also Christ Crucified. Again St. Paul preached Jesus' Crucified and tells us,
"WE PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED, a stumbling block to Jews, and folly to Gentiles, but those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1Cor.1:23-24) He again says,
"When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1Corinthians 2:1-2) True,our Christian faith is in vain without the ressurrection of Jesus, (1Cor. 15:17) but it was the CRUCIFIXION of Jesus that paid for our sins. We cannot preach Jesus' Resurrection without also preaching Jesus' Crucifixion. For the Resurrection to have happened had to begin with the Crucifixion. How can we worship the risen Jesus without also worshipping the Jesus who died for our sins? Are you suggesting we just forget about these Scripture passages?
Do you think Jesus wanted us to look at His Crucifixion as only a past event? I don't think so. For example, when He appeared to the apostles after His Resurrection and in His glorified risen Body He showed them His wounds from His Crucifixion. (Luke 24:39-40 & John 20:20) Why would Jesus keep those wounds from His Crucifixion if He didn't want us to remember His Crucifixion and everything He gives to us through His Cross such as His passionate and unconditional endless love and infinite mercy? What would you say to Jesus if Jesus appeared to you in His glorified risen body and showed you His wounds? Would you say, "Your Crucifixion Jesus is of the past, so why should I look at your wounds?"
He is Risen; take Him off the Cross!
Okay, then let me ask you (or anyone else for that matter) something. Why do you need empty Crosses in your church and worn around your neck? Do you need the empty Cross to remember Jesus' Resurrection? Personally I wear a Crucifix to publicly preach Jesus' Crucified. The heart of the Gospel message is Jesus "DIED" for our sins and conquered death. St. Paul also says,
"the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1Cor. 1:18) As for myself, I'm proud to wear my Crucifix. The Crucifix displays God's passionate and unconditional endless love and His infinite mercy He has for all of us. It is sad that some people, especially professing Christians, are offended when they see a Crucifix and have this need to criticize it.
Keep your eyes on the crucifix,
for Jesus without the cross
is a man without a mission,
and the cross without Jesus
is a burden without a reliever. ---Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Pax Christi