A modest proposal: taking up the cross

Today’s Gospel say that we must take up our cross daily (that’s not all it says. What else does it say? Read it, to find out). In a brief expounding with a little hyperbole I will hyperboliously expound briefly, taking from the stations.

Every day we are condemned to the cross. We choose whether to accept our cross. We interact with Simon, mourning women, Mary, Veronica, two thieves, and (or) Roman soldiers. How do we interact with the people we encounter; how do we deal with our failings? We must remember that Christ fell three times and every time He got up again. He accepted the help of Simon. He comforted the mourning. He gave back to the gift-giver Veronica. He talked to His Mother Mary (Our Mother too, don't forget). He wasn’t condemning. He wasn’t haughty. He was loving. He was sacrificing. He forgave. In the Gospel He asks us to take up our cross every day (repeat reading the last sentence until it sinks in). This is (in part) our baptismal promise.

Chesterton wrote about how the cross symbolizes Christianity, that Christian Saints are ever expanding, not trying to hold the infinite inside a box, but instead expanding themselves to see as much of the infinite as possible, for a cross may extend its arms infinitely and still remain a cross (I don't remember where he wrote about this, it has been a while since I read it, and my interpretation may have sneaked in, in other words: not a direct quote, heck, it might be absolutely meaningless). Christ says deny yourself, which may mean (for myself at least) leaving the boxes of comfort and expanding in His mercy, His Love, His Passion, His Cross, and following Him.




God bless
>P<
Joshua Fahey