The third meditation on "The crosses we bear"
If I want to be a true follower of Christ I want to imitate him not only in love but also in suffering. Christ showed me in his sufferings, even to his death on the cross, that there is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friend. He also gave us the commandment to "love one another as I have loved you."
It's human nature to expect Christ to bear all the suffering, carry the burdens of the daily life of struggles, hatred, rejection, even to death on the cross so that we could be freed from all of it. But remember: Christ did not promise us a life without suffering, sin, struggles, sacrifice and challenges. Recall his message in Matthew 16:24, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me". (This is also the message St. Francis read when he opened the Gospel Book seeking Counsel for his way of life for himself and his followers.) Knowing the weakness of his children in attempting to follow his message, Christ said to us in John 14:18 "Take courage, I will not leave you orphaned."
If I love Christ as he loves me in all of his suffering, I will embrace my crosses because I know it will help me to grow in understanding Christ and his tremendous love for me in his suffering. In Matthew 28:20, he gives us courage when he says "I am with you always until the end of the world".
During this Lenten Season, as we journey with our suffering Christ, may we grow in a deeper understanding of how in his suffering he could have such an immense love for each one of us. May we through the crosses we bear, experience his love, courage and peace.
Lenten Carbon Fast
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