At the Foot of the Cross: A Theological Reflection on Radical Welcome

The image of the cross stands at the center of the Christian faith—not as a symbol of exclusion or division, but as the ultimate representation of God's redemptive love for all humanity. In a world marked by barriers of race, class, politics, and belief, the foot of the cross remains a sacred space where such distinctions are rendered powerless. Here, we are all equal. Here, we are all welcomed.

Scripture reminds us repeatedly that Christ's mission was not confined to a select few, but extended to the marginalized, the broken, the outsider, and even the enemy. From the woman at the well (John 4) to the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43), Jesus demonstrated a radical hospitality that defied social, religious, and cultural expectations. At the foot of the cross, these individuals found belonging, forgiveness, and transformation.

Theologically, the cross dismantles the notion of spiritual elitism. Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This oneness is not a flattening of identities but a holy unity born out of grace. It is at the cross that we see God's love poured out for all, not because of our merit, but because of God's mercy.

To say "all are welcome" at the foot of the cross is not a casual invitation. It is a profound theological claim that challenges the Church to mirror the radical love of Christ. It calls us to create communities where differences are embraced, where wounds are acknowledged and tended to, and where each person is seen as bearing the image of God.

The cross is not a boundary line. It is a bridge—spanning every divide, reconciling humanity to God and to one another. And so, when we gather at the foot of the cross, we do so not to boast in our righteousness, but to lay down our burdens, our pride, and our divisions. We come not as perfect people, but as people in need of grace.

In this sacred space, there is no greater or lesser. There are no insiders or outsiders. There is only the body of Christ, unified in its diversity, held together by the suffering and love of our Savior.

So let us return, again and again, to the foot of the cross. Let us be shaped by its humility, its inclusivity, and its transformative power. For it is here—at this intersection of suffering and glory—that we find our truest welcome and our deepest belonging.