The earth trembles. And on the Cross, the Church of the Gentiles is born. The Roman centurion understands this, and acknowledges Jesus as the Son of God. From the Cross he triumphs - ever anew.

That began on the cross. The Holy Spirit is immediately at work. Just after the sixth word, the centurion said, “Certainly this man was innocent” (Luke 23:47). In St. Mark’s Gospel ...