B: Easter Sunday (1 Apr 2018) - THE REAL X-FACTOR - Jn 20:1-9

Whenever we fill up questionnaires nowadays, a common sight in the text is the instruction "Mark the appropriate box that corresponds to your choice". In the Philippines, we place a "check" sign on the box but in Europe they insert a "cross" sign instead. We Filipinos wonder then: How can a cross sign be a mark for agreeing into something? We are so accustomed to seeing a cross sign to a wrong answer in examination papers in school. How can a cross be an affirmative thing?

Even biblical passages would attest to the cross' initial shameful stigma (cf. Deut 21:23) as criminals are executed on it, usually in front of the community to serve as a deterrent for future political uprisings and insurrections. The Roman way of crucifying involves four usual procedures on the criminal: (a) precrucifixion torture (Mt 27:26; Mk 15:15; Jn 19:1), (b) carrying the crossbeam (Jn 19:17), (c) fixing the victim to the cross (Mt 27:35; Mk 15:24; Jn 19:18), and (d) raising the victim on the stake (Jn 3:14). All of these were performed on Jesus, but the most painful of all is that he was to die before his mother (Jn 19:25). This detail is the quintessential horror of the crucifixion: the victim's family members watch the horrendous death, and at times, are even killed first before the very eyes of the crucified criminal---as in the case of 800 Pharisees who witnessed the death of their wives and children while hanging on crosses (cf. Josephus, Ant. 13.380-383).

The cross orthography is observed also in the Greek letter "chi" (χ). Placed side-by-side the Greek letter "rho" (ρ), "chi-rho" (χρ) serves as the abbreviation of "Christos" (Χριστός), which literally means "the anointed" or simply "Messiah" (cf. Jn 1:41). Yet even without the "rho" the "chi" can stand alone to refer to Jesus Christ. Accordingly, we spell Christmas as X-mas and Christians as X-tians; "x" becomes then synonymous to Christ. Indeed, the cross has been devoid of its original shameful mark because of Christ, who became triumphant with his resurrection since "we know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him" (Rom 6:9). With Christ, "x" becomes a victory over death, an affirmation of faith, and a clear mark of Christ's followers.

Presently, the victorious concept of the cross is perceived differently: it is a show-off of one's skills, endurance and appeal to impress the public. We are so used to this rationale via the popularity of the X-Factor, a television talent-show where contestants are eliminated one-by-one when they fail the excruciating and pressuring (even sarcastic) public scrutiny; the last-man-standing is declared the winner. What is projected by the X-Factor is it is through our own human efforts that victory is achieved. Our Christian faith teaches differently as St. Paul declares: "For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor 1:18). Clearly, the cross is the power of God! How foolish will we then be to usurp this power. Because it is only with it that the resurrection was made possible, and that the cross/death was finally conquered.

Presently, there are many populist leaders who usurp this power to control life. They show-off their dominance, intelligence and appeal to the public with their false analysis of society. They are so skilled that they can survive against the fiercest criticisms, thus, successfully pushing forward their Roman-like execution of alleged criminals (even to the point of slaying them in front of their loved ones). However, before the public's eye they are declared the X-Factor to societal change and development. This is very true to the Philippine political situation where the majority of the Filipinos accept a government like this, arguing that it is only by the violent means it promotes that the country can be cleansed from these so-called "societal menaces".

At this point, it is probably fitting to assert the Filipino way of marking instructions… put an "x" when we do not approve on something/someone, rather than showing our approval even if their ways are completely counter to our Christian values. Let us remember that the "x" of Christ is only powerful with the power of God manifested in his resurrection. Without this power, all "x's" are simply futile. For God, not any earthly divine impostor, is the real X-Factor of the world.

- Rex Fortes, CM