13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A
LOOK AT THE CROSS
MT. 10: 37-42
My friend always pretends that his life is wonderful. Listening to him one may be tempted to think that he has no difficulty in life. His family is near perfect; he is close to the Lord; he has good friends and companions; his needs are all met. But everybody knows how weak his body is; he is always in the hospital. He has a hidden cross he carries each day.
The heart of the gospel today are the words of the Lord Jesus: “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” How do you react to these words? The fact is that we all carry crosses… we cannot go on living without doing so.
But “to take up” one’s cross means something else. It means to carry our cross patiently, willingly, trustingly. Many times we carry our cross with complaints, grudges, impatience and even resentment. Some people even try to hide their crosses, avoiding to tell others about it for fear of being judged, avoided or scorned.
How beautiful life would be if there were no crosses. What if life had no pain, problems, sickness, quarrels, or death? That is our ideal. However today, even kids complain of stress. And the grown-ups experience the grueling battle with depression and other mental health problems. Simply put, while we live, there will always be a cross to carry, if not for us, then for someone we love.
So, how do we “take up” the cross as Jesus encourages us to do? I heard someone say that we only need to “look” at the cross. Yes, look at the cross! There is a reason why for Catholics, we have a special cross, the crucifix, the cross with the figure of Christ crucified and dying. When you look at the crucifix, listen also to the silent message it transports into your heart. On the Cross, Jesus is saying: “I am here with you. I will not leave you alone. I will not abandon you. Do not deny your cross nor be ashamed of it. Do not run away from your cross nor ditch it away. I am with you until this cross in your life is over. There is a Resurrection, and I know what that means, too! Do not be without hope; for we are in this together.”
What cross do you carry these days? Is if your own or do you carry it for another? Or maybe you are managing both your own and a loved ones’ cross. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. Look at the Cross and remember He is carrying your cross with you!
Make it a habit to look at a crucifix each day!
ourparishpriest 2023
