40 Crosses for 40 Days: 20th Cross - The Good Shepherd and Sheep Cross

Today, the 20th day of Lent, marks the halfway point in our journey. This cross, the Good Shepherd and Sheep cross, not only continues the theme from yesterday, but it also sheds some light on the two saints whose feast day we celebrate today, Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs.

Looking at the cross, we can see the image of a sun shining its rays down upon the whole world, emanating from behind the head of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The sun might be a halo, reflecting Jesus' holiness shared with all who look upon Him, or it might represent God the Father, who is On High and who sent His Son to save us, or it could be the Pillar of Fire that led the Israelites through the desert, giving them light to see in the dark. This is one of those times when a symbol represents more than one thing. The sun on this cross represents all these things, the glory of the Father, the incarnate Son and the illuminating Holy Spirit, because the Holy Trinity is Three in One. They are always together, acting in unison for our salvation.

The layout of this fairly simple cross also reminds us of Jesus' role as High Priest and Mediator between us and His Father. Jesus is placed in the center of the cross, with his head in Heaven (artistically speaking) and His feet on earth, hidden behind the flock of sheep, on the lower part of the vertical arm. His hands are cupped and outstretched, both interceding for us, holding the same position of supplication we see the priest take during Mass, as well as receiving and pouring out the blessings from the Father, at the same time.

This cross shows us that Jesus is the ladder from Jacob's dream, where Jacob witnesses the angels ascending and descending. Genesis describes this ladder as a "stairway rest[ing] on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens." (Gen. 28:12) As St. Catherine of Siena taught, Jesus Himself, in His own person, is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth, the only way across the "great chasm" described by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke 16:26.

As St. Catherine of Siena, as well as the martyrs, Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, tell us in both their writings and their actions, we have to get onto this bridge during our lives. We have to listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd now and respond when we hear it, just like the sheep on the cross. Jesus describes Himself as this very Good Shepherd. He says:

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.

Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
(John 10:1-11)

"I am the good shepherd." (John 10:11)

We know that both St. Perpetua and St. Felicity heard the voice of the Good Shepherd and they came running towards it, despite undergoing severe and significant suffering. These two saints were martyred in Carthage, North Africa, in 203 AD, their deaths put on display for sport, under the persecution of Emperor Severus.

Although no one wants to be put to the test in such an extreme way as these two martyrs, Lent provides us with the opportunity to voluntarily suffer some discomforts, to respond a little more wholeheartedly to the call of the Good Shepherd. Our Good Shepherd does not ask anything of us that He Himself has not already done. Let's imitate the faith and resolve of these two young women and encourage each other to continue on the way.

Let us pray: Holy Trinity, we thank You for the lives and witness of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, and we ask You to hear their prayers for us as they intercede before Your throne. Give us the clarity to hear Your voice calling us, and the courage to answer it. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen