Listening to the Passion Narrative on Palm Sunday, I winced at the description of Jesus' humiliation, torture and death. It is a painful story for anyone, Christian or not to enter into, but perhaps as a trauma survivor it is particularly triggering.
It was around this point in Holy Week that Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus in a pretty scandalous episode of unveiled hair, foot rubbing, expensive perfume and angry disciples. There is a version of this story in Luke's gospel that has a slightly different take on things.
The cross is a symbol of liberation. It's a symbol of resistance. But it's taken me a while to see this reminder for what it is.