One cross I recently received a message from a reader inquiring about the reasoning behind last month’s cover (37:7, September 2010). He was rather agitated, demanding to know whose “bright idea” it was to use an image of a church in which there was an obvious clash of cultures. It seemed to him that the church building had been constructed or renovated recently, but then the parish received a new, conservative pastor who layered a more traditional style on top of the existing space. He may have been surprised with my reply. I said that I was glad that he had written to share his thoughts, because his reaction is part of what I was trying to evoke with that cover. What he (and others) may not have realized is that every cover this year (except for May’s architecture issue) has featured a cross. That symbol, that sacrifice, unites us. Everything else is interpretive. The worship space this reader reacted so strongly to was clearly imagined and designed with a relatively progressive worship style in mind. Something happened to put a conservative spin on it, with what appears to be not much concern for the impact this would have on the space. There was probably little concern for the people as well. It illustrates well the question of “what is church?” that we are grappling with in each issue this year. That photo capturing two interpretations of what church should be struggling for dominance in one worship space with the cross of Christ suspended over it all made quite a point, I thought. The cross makes us one, whether we like it or not. In this issue of ML, we consider some of the ways that call to unity is lived out. Ron Raab, devoted minister to those who suffer in mind, body, and spirit, relates how the example of Blessed Brother Andre, CSC (to be canonized this month), leads to ways to offer the presence of Christ among the poor. Ada Simpson reflects on the 100th anniversary of Catholic Charities and the responsibility that each of us has to work for justice and peace, and in so doing bring Christ to the powerless and impoverished. Todd Flowerday considers the ways we invoke Christ’s presence in our prayer, our song, our common liturgy, and our lived example in the world. Joni Woelfel writes about the ministry of writing and how the intimate presence of God is brought forth through that process. As we continue to ponder what church is (and isn’t), the cross is unwaveringly central. In a ritual sense, what we put on it, how we construct it, how we venerate it, and what role it plays in our liturgy are all variables. What doesn’t change is its power. Because of the cross, we are ultimately called to make the crucified, risen, triumphant Christ present in this world. We may just have to wait until the next world to sort out all of our differences. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal 6:14) ML We’re Still Green: ML remains a “Paper Hero” on Green America’s Paper Project website (www.coopamerica.org/programs/woodwise/publishers/heroes/index.cfm) because it is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. SUBSCRIBE NOW! What do YOU Think? Send an e-mail to ML Editor or post an entry on the ML Current Issue Discussion Board. (All submissions become the property of RPI and may be edited for length.)