“This isn’t good.” – Pope Francis
“In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to Me. Russia will be converted. A time of peace will be granted to the world.” Our Lady of Fatima on July 13, 1917.
“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 14:11).
The world has shown great interest in what is being called, The Communist Cross. “Pope Francis is presented with a gift of a crucifix carved into a wooden hammer and sickle, the Communist symbol uniting labor and peasants, by Bolivian President Evo Morales in La Paz, Bolivia, Wednesday, July 8, 2015. Morales said things have changed with this pope, and the Bolivian people are greeting Francis as someone who is “helping in the liberation of our people.” (L’Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP)
The Vatican and the Bolivian government stated officially that there was not ideology or message intended by the “gift”. However, I do find in the Communist Cross several symbolisms with a message.
First, the hammer and the sickle remind the world that Communism is hostile to Christ and His church. Following the Russian Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, Christians were arrested and persecuted. Many church buildings were confiscated and turned into warehouses, or public latrines. Atheism was the official state religion and Christ was vilified. Despite more than one thousand years of Christianity being in Russia at the time of the Revolution, Christ and His followers were dishonored. That disrespect has been carried to Bolivia and has been embraced by the people of that nation. Each and every day Communist willing crucify afresh the Lord of Glory. The vile image of a crucified Christ on a hammer of oppression, undergirded by an oppressed work force based on social injustice, is accurate, and condemning.
Communism demands service and servitude. In contrast to Communist ideology, Jesus came as a servant to give His life a ransom for many. Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. Then, as a Good Shepherd Jesus gave His life for His sheep. The sheep are made mainly of the poor, the weak, and the lowly. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
While it is true that Christ died for Communist, for he died for all sinners, it is also true that Bolivian President Evo Morales in La Paz, Bolivia is foolish to think he can unite the godlessness, and the evil of Communism, with the Lordship and preciousness of Christ. No doubt Morales felt he was being clever with the official representative of the Catholic Church, but he was being contemptuous. His belief and behavior is noted by heaven. He will perish in an eternal punishment unless he repents for he gave to the pontiff, with undisguised impudence, that which represents Communism greatest shame. Morales glories in his shame. Nevertheless, where sin abounds grace does much more abound and so we see the symbol of Christ’s greatest gift, His life. To the people of Bolivia is the message of the Christian faith. Come to Christ. If the Son shall make you free, you are free indeed. Place your hope in God, not in government.
