Christ Continues to Be Crucified

Today is Good Friday, a day when we as Christians recall the crucifixion and death of our Savior and honor the sacrifice he made for our sins. And though it occurred over 2,000 years ago, the fact remains that Christ continues to be crucified to this very day.

He is crucified by the liberal media, who are quick to jump all over stories that have an anti-Christian aura to them. They take advantage of every opportunity they have to demonize the Catholic Church, and they're only too happy to devote press coverage to individuals or institutions that say things or do things to offend Christians. While Islam remains a sacred cow that the media goes out of its way to protect, Christians, especially Catholics, are viewed as targets with massive bullseyes on their backs.

He is crucified by the entertainment industry, in movies, on television, and in music. Sometimes these entities glorify views that are antithetical to Christian beliefs. Sometimes they'll cleverly disguise their agenda with veiled references. Sometimes they'll even unleash direct, overt attacks on Christianity. What I find most disturbing about it is that the entertainment industry exerts a great deal of influence on our youth, and thus on the future of our society. This can only serve to prolong the vicious cycle of secular assaults on Christian values.

He is crucified by our government, who do everything they can to push Him further and further away. Whether it's a judge who rules that nativity scenes or displays of crosses are unconstitutional, a legislator who votes in favor of a woman's right to murder her unborn child, or a public school that confiscates bibles and rosaries, it is quite evident what direction our leaders have been moving in over the past several decades.

He is crucified throughout the world by Muslims who are intolerant of other religious views. Of course, you'll never see the liberal media devote significant coverage to the many Christians who have been harassed, assaulted, tortured, and even murdered in countries like Indonesia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Egypt, and Nigeria. And to think that our armed forces have come to the rescue in an effort to liberate some of these countries, that so many of our brave men and women have given their lives to these missions...and for what? So that Muslims can persecute Christians?

Finally, Christ continues to be crucified by each and every one of us through our sins. And so, on this Good Friday, I urge all of my Christian friends to reflect on their lives and the ways in which they have crucified Christ through their own actions. By being truly sorry and making reparations for our sinful acts, we can alleviate His suffering. While we may not be able to change the situations I described above, we can help counter the evil all throughout the world by confessing our sins, doing our penance, and putting forth our best effort to emulate Christ in every way possible. Remember to bow your heads and take a moment of silence at noon today, and never forget that every crucifixion is followed by a resurrection.