THE BUCK STOPS HERE

Many people these days, and I am one of them, wear a cross around the neck. Others wear some other religious symbol as an outward sign of the faith that they profess. Sometimes, of course, these items we wear are mere pieces of jewelry and have little or nothing to do with faith.

But, again, for many people a crucifix or a dove or a medal with an image on it are practical reminders and outward manifestations of their inner faith. All this is well and good as long as that which is symbolized by the crucifix, namely our faith-life in Jesus Christ, is actually lived out by the one wearing it. We profess our faith in words, as in the Creed, and in signs, as in the crucifix; but all that is so much emptiness unless we really make the effort to imitate the life of the one who died on the cross.

You see, a cross is not just a cross. It is something much more. And when I wear that cross on a chain around my neck or carry it in my pocket, that cross is saying something to me and to everyone else. It is saying what Jesus’ cross said to him and to us: “The buck stops here!”

If Jesus ever did anything, he never passed the buck. He never said, “Don’t bother me with your problems” or “Can’t you see I’m too busy? Ask someone else” or “I’ve already given enough or done enough. Don’t ask any more of me.” Jesus never said anything like that. He never passed the buck. He never made any excuse for not doing something for someone who needed him. He never had to make an excuse because he always helped. Everyone’s problems were his problems, not because he was God’s son but because he was a person, just like you and me.

We are persons in no less a way and to no less a degree than Jesus. That crucifix we wear outwardly as a sign or carry interiorly in our hearts through our baptism, that crucifix is a constant reminder that the buck stops with you, with me. We can’t pass it. We have to do all we can, all we can, to help. No excuses. No now-wait-a-minutes, no ask-someone-elses, no nothings. We can only do what we can do, but we must do what we can.

That crucifix, that faith that is of ours, imposes responsibilities upon each and every one of us. Sometimes those responsibilities are heavy burdens. But we have to carry them and we will be able to carry them and they will seem lighter because the one who died on the cross will help us carry the load. He won’t leave us stranded. We, for our part, cannot leave anyone stranded: not our church, not our family and friends, not anyone.

Everyone and everything is my responsibility because the buck stops with me…and you and you and you. We know what our responsibilities are. No one really has to tell us of them or about them or remind us of them. The crucifix is reminder enough, whether around our neck or in our soul. So what is our excuse for all too often passing the buck?