Provisional placement

In the old Cathedral of Molfetta (Bari), there is a big crucifix of clay.
Awaiting to permanently place it on the wall of the sacristy, the priest hung up a notice saying: "Provisional placement".

This writing seemed to me to be providentially inspired.
"Provisional placement".
I think that there is no better formula to define the cross.
Mine, yours, not only that of Christ.

Cheer up then!
you who suffer,
you that feel the pangs of loneliness.

Have faith,
you who drink the bitter cup of abandonment.
Dry your tears,
you that have been stabbed in the back by those who believed your friends.
Do not distress yourself,
you who see your plans collapsed and your hard work destroyed.
Do not ship the oars,
you who are tired of fighting and disappointments have accumulated to no end.
Be not dismayed,
if you are not considered by anyone,
If you've seen so many ships,
and you've always been on the ground.

Cheer up!
Your cross is always "provisionally placed".
Calvary is not a residential area.
The Gospel invites us to consider the provisional nature of the cross.
There is a great sentence that sums up the tragedy of Christ's death.
"From noon till three in the afternoon, there was darkness over all the earth."
Perhaps this phrase is the darkest of the entire Bible.
For me it is one of the brightest.
"From noon till three in the afternoon."
Only then it is permitted to park on Golgotha.
After three hours, all crosses will be forcedly removed.

Cheer up, you who suffer.
There is also a deposition of your cross.
There is also some mercy for you.
There is already a hand that takes the nails out of your hands.

Cheer up!
In a while it is three in the afternoon.
Soon, darkness will give way to light,
the earth will regain its virginal colors of Easter
and the sun will break the clouds.

written by Don Tonino Bello