Today the Cross is placed before us as the supreme symbol of sacrifice and ultimate emblem of our faith. And as we reverence it, bow before it in adoration, and venerate it with awe, we do so with the full knowledge that we must also “take up” this same cross ourselves: “Whoever would come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34).
Sadly, these words that Christ uttered are often misunderstood, misinterpreted, and confused by many, thinking we must forget about ourselves and everything we find joyful and nice in life, and to accept the cross as an over-whelming burden of suffrage, just as Jesus endured His cross to His Own demise on Golgotha.
Yet, carrying the Cross of Christ should be seen as a joy. It not only fulfills of our Lord’s directive, but it is also the epitome and fulfillment to our Christian ministry. Bearing our cross is to carry Christ’s Gospel of Truth, Love, Faith, Mercy, and Compassion through life and to grace the world. It is a spirit-filled effort that goes against the tides of this secular, sinful world to express the joy and anticipation of the next. The Cross also denotes an “ascesis,” a “podvig,” a courageous struggle to follow and emulate our Savior, inspiring ourselves and others through the process.
Thus, for any true Christian, the cross is NOT a heavy, toilsome burden placed upon our shoulder, but a set of wings that lightens our cares, elevating us above sin, and allowing us to soar upwards toward God in peace and love.
Bearing our cross and making the sign of the cross when we bless ourselves shows the respect and value we place upon Jesus’ voluntary and saving Passion. And this respect for the cross and what it stands for must be at the forefront of our lives by how we carry and conduct ourselves in both private and public settings; how we interact with others; how we live and lead moral lives; how we treat one another; how we humbly submit to God’s will; how we dress appropriately when we come to worship in God’s House; how we adhere to the teachings of the Gospel; how we fast; how we feast; how we forgive others and show mercy and compassion; how we own up to our mistakes and indiscretions by confessing our sins; how we pray…as individuals, families, and the Church; how we read and study Holy Scripture; and how we use our talents and give generously as good stewards. All this is what makes us a true follower of Jesus Christ. Anything less simply makes you a person in a pew.
