Standing before the cross.

John Coleman offered Commonweal readers an evocative and insightful Lenten meditation in his article, "Mel Gibson Meets Marc Chagall" (February 27). The major part of his reflection focused on the remarkable paintings by Chagall, centered on the crucifixion of Jesus the Jew, surrounded by bearers of Jewish suffering through the ages.

I found one assertion quite problematic in Coleman's otherwise delicate and nuanced discussion, however. "Christians would do well," he writes, "to stand long under the shadow of Chagall's White Crucifixion, and to recognize that Jesus neither totally subsumes, redeems, nor removes Jewish suffering." While I can affirm with Coleman that suffering (Jewish or Christian) is not removed by faith in Jesus, I believe that the heart of the Good News is that all suffering, as all sin, has been redeemed by the sacrifice of the Crucified. As the church's liturgy proclaims on Good Friday: "We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world."

Either Jesus the Christ is the redeemer of the world or he is not. If he is not, then Christian preaching and faith are, in the final analysis, empty and vain. They have no distinctive content and we, in fact, revert to a pre-paschal condition: to what George Steiner calls "the long day's journey" of Holy Saturday. For, if the cross of Christ is not redemptive, then it is only one more of history's horrors.

Nostra aetate, Vatican II's historic document that affirmed the intimate spiritual bonds uniting the church with the faith of Israel, nonetheless reaffirmed the church's foundational faith in Jesus Christ as the savior of all peoples. The council teaches: "Christ, in his boundless love, freely underwent his passion and death on account of the sins of all people, so that all might attain salvation. Therefore, it is the duty of the church's preaching to proclaim the cross of Christ as the sign of God's universal love and as the source of all grace."

Such preaching will always be a stumbling block, to Gentiles and Jews alike. "But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1:24). This is Christians' paschal faith.

Current Courses: (February and September intakes)

MA in Peace and Justice          This well established MA offers
(3 semesters)                    insights and new approaches to human
                                 areas where Peace & Justice and
                                 Integrity of creation are needed
MA in Mission Studies            A popular MA that tackles the views and
(3 semesters)                    concepts of Mission in the 21st century
Diploma Missiology               This Diploma offers possibilities to
(2 semesters)                    both understand and transmit Gospel
                                 values in multicultural and multi-faith
                                 societies

New Courses From SEPTEMBER 2004

MA in CHRISTIAN Leadership       This MA provides a sound theoretical
(3 semesters)                    and skill based approach to work as a
                                 church leader
MA in PASTORAL Theology          This MA equips students with a sound
(2 semesters)                    theoretical approach and practical
                                 skills to work in contextual pastoral
                                 care
Diploma in Evangelization        The understanding of evangelization in
(2 semesters)                    recent years bas undergone many changes
                                 particularly in the context of economic
                                 and political situations. This course
                                 will examine those changes and find
                                 today's basis for evangelization
Diploma in Mission Spirituality  Evangelization flows from a deep
(2 semesters)                    personal conviction. This course
                                 provides a sound foundation for mission
                                 taking into account the challenges of
                                 today's world

All enquiries should be directed to The Registrar

Missionary Institute London

Holcombe House, The Ridgeway, London NW7 4HY, Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

(REV.) ROBERT P. IMBELLI

Newton Centre, Mass.