Lenten Reflection - Good Friday
Following Jesus Involves Embracing Our Cross
"Into your hands I commit my spirit; you will redeem me, O Lord, faithful God." - Psalm 31:5
Each of us has a cross to carry. There is no need to make one or look for one. Living every moment of our life and fully embracing our humanity inevitably brings us to our crosses. My brother and I often joke that following Jesus is easy, if only we can choose the cross – the suffering - we want. Yet, the cross is precisely the manner of suffering that we do not prefer. Jesus' call to discipleship remains: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."
Maybe we can't study; maybe we are handicapped; maybe we suffer from depression, from poor self-image, from a serious disease; maybe we experience conflict in our families; maybe we are victims of violence or abuse. We didn't choose any of it, but these things are our crosses. We can ignore them, reject them, refuse them or hate them. But we can also take up these crosses and follow Jesus, follow the one who has transformed all crosses into glory. Then perhaps can we confront or even eliminate the conditions of injustice or abuse that cause unnecessarily suffering in our lives or those of others.
"We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world!"
inspired by Henri Nouwen
"Into your hands I commit my spirit; you will redeem me, O Lord, faithful God." - Psalm 31:5
Each of us has a cross to carry. There is no need to make one or look for one. Living every moment of our life and fully embracing our humanity inevitably brings us to our crosses. My brother and I often joke that following Jesus is easy, if only we can choose the cross – the suffering - we want. Yet, the cross is precisely the manner of suffering that we do not prefer. Jesus' call to discipleship remains: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."Maybe we can't study; maybe we are handicapped; maybe we suffer from depression, from poor self-image, from a serious disease; maybe we experience conflict in our families; maybe we are victims of violence or abuse. We didn't choose any of it, but these things are our crosses. We can ignore them, reject them, refuse them or hate them. But we can also take up these crosses and follow Jesus, follow the one who has transformed all crosses into glory. Then perhaps can we confront or even eliminate the conditions of injustice or abuse that cause unnecessarily suffering in our lives or those of others.
"We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world!"
inspired by Henri Nouwen
Fr. Tri Dinh, SJ
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posted by magis at
6:58 AM
