(Good Friday): CHALLENGE TO CARRY OUR CROSSES
(A)The cross and the crucifix are meaningful symbols, as the dove symbolizes
peace and the heart symbolizes love. The crucifix and the cross are the symbols of the
loving and sacrificial offering of self for others. 1) It is only in the cross that we see the
face of God’s love. 2) The cross is the symbol of the remission of our sins: “But he was
pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.” (Is 53:5). 3) The cross is the symbol of
humble self-emptying for others. 4) the cross is the symbol of the risen Christ who
promises us a crown of glory as a reward for our patient bearing of our daily crosses.
#2 The Soviet premier’s cross:
(B) The Cross always means pain. But my pain is Christ’s cross 1) When I offer my
suffering with His on the cross for the salvation of all of us. 2) when we share our
blessings sacrificially with others. 3) The pain we suffer in controlling our evil tendencies
4) It is, as well, the pain and humiliation we suffer by standing with Jesus, his ideas and
ideals.
(C) Our crosses come to us mainly from four sources. Some of our crosses, like
diseases, natural disasters and death, are rise from natural causes. We face other
crosses when we do our duties faithfully. Our friends and enemies supply a few of our
crosses. Finally, we ourselves cause many of our crosses as natural consequences of
careless living and evil habits and addictions.
(D) Why should we carry our crosses willingly? First, cross-bearing is a condition for
Christian discipleship. Jesus said: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny
himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mt 16:24). Second, it is by carrying our
crosses that we make reparation for our sins and for the sins of others related to us.
That is why St. Paul said that he was suffering in his body what is “lacking” in Christ’s
suffering. Third, it is by carrying our crosses that we become imitators of Christ in his
suffering for us. St. Paul explains it thus: “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live,
no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal 2: 19-20).
Life messages for Good Friday: (1) We should carry our crosses with the right
motives: Not like a lazy donkey, cursing its fate or angry oxen protesting its load or hired
worker working only for his wage. We should carry our crosses like a loving wife who
nurses her paralyzed husband or sick child, with sacrificial love and dedicated
commitment. The carrying of our crosses becomes easier when we compare our light
crosses with the heavy crosses of terminally ill patients or patients in emergency
wards. We need to draw strength and inspiration from Jesus Who walks ahead of us
carrying his heavier cross, while supporting us in carrying our crosses. (2) We should
plant the cross of Christ in our daily lives: We have to begin every day with a sign of the
cross, asking the blessing and protection of the crucified Lord in our lives that day. A
loving, prayerful touch