During
his public ministry, Jesus made it clear that an important condition for being
his follower was bearing the cross. We probably remember the
passage where he says, "If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take
up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). As his passion draws near, he emphatically
reiterates this same condition in today’s gospel: "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground
and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it
produces much fruit."
To
be a Christian is to be where Christ is. And where is Christ? He is always pouring out his
life for others on the cross, giving himself for the good of others
through self-sacrificing love. And not just to an elite few
but to all people. This is the lesson of the Gospels, and the Eucharist
- the continuing, throughout history, of Christ's self-sacrifice on Calvary for
the salvation of the whole world.
That's
also where we should be: giving our lives generously
for God and our neighbors. Christ's great commandment
and challenge was to love others as he loved us. He taught
this lesson by example on the cross, and with words during the Last Supper:
"A man can have no greater
love than to lay down his life for his friends."
St Paul learned this lesson well; he was always talking about
the cross. As
followers of Christ, we should expect crosses, difficulties,
and even, at times, persecution.
To
be a true Christian involves not just wearing a crucifix or hanging
one on the wall, but bearing the sign of the cross in every aspect of
our lives. All Christians bear the sign of the cross on their
souls, even before they experience persecution and suffering in their
life. Our souls are actually sealed
and stamped, with the sign of Christ in two
sacraments we all receive: baptism and confirmation. They leave an indelible
mark on the person’s soul; that’s why we receive them only once in our
lifetime. Even if a baptized and confirmed Christian rejects
his friendship with Christ, dies without repenting, and ends up in hell, he
will still bear the seals of baptism and confirmation on his
soul. The demons will be able to recognize that he had been a
Christian.
In
ancient Rome, the soldiers of the Emperor used to receive a permanent,
tattoo-like mark on their shoulder. This
is the mark that Russell Crowe scraped off his arm in the movie The
Gladiator. It was a sign of their special identity and mission
- Roman soldiers, even after their time of service was finished, retained many
privileges and responsibilities in the Empire. In addition to the tattoo, they also
wore a special lead seal around their neck, which was used as
a kind of passport throughout their travels.
When we were
baptized, we were marked in our very soul with the sign of
Christ - he became our Lord, protector, and
Savior, snatching us out of Satan's grasp. When the bishop made the sign of the
cross on our forehead with the sacred chrism at confirmation,
we were sealed as Christ's soldiers, with all
the privileges and responsibilities that entails. These sacraments will also
serve as our passport at the moment of our death, helping us gain entry into
heaven, so long as we have lived in a way that was pleasing to God and
considerate of others.
Whether or not we believe in Christ,
we will have to bear suffering, inconveniences, and setbacks. Life in a fallen world is full of crosses, no matter what.
No one is exempt when it comes to suffering and struggling in life. But as
Catholics, as followers of Christ, we can find meaning
in these crosses, because we don't have to carry them alone - Jesus
bears them with us. By his own death on the cross, he also shows us that
suffering does not have to be pointless anguish; these moments in our life can
actually be redeeming and transformative. We are the lucky ones, because
we know that.
But
what about the people who don't realize this comforting truth?
What about those who think they are alone in their struggles? One of the most
important activities we can engage in during Lent is helping those in need. One
thoughtful and beautiful way to do this is by helping others find
meaning in their crosses.
We
all know people who are suffering. They may be suffering economically, their
marriage and family life stressed by financial pressures
beyond their control. They may be suffering physically - their
body and mind weakened or ravaged by disease, injury, or old age. They may be
suffering emotionally - working through an experience of betrayal, infidelity, or loss.
They may be suffering existentially - wondering why
they are on the planet and where they can find a reason for
living.
As
Catholics, we experience those same forms of suffering, but we know
what to do with them. We bring them to Christ; we hold
tight to our crucifixes; we offer them back to God
for the salvation of souls and the reparation of sins, and we try to let
ourselves be transformed by these difficult moments of life. In the few
remaining weeks of Lent, let's reach out and help lighten someone else's cross, just as Christ
constantly helps lighten ours. Let's tell someone else about the one
Cross that transforms all other crosses. More than likely, by
sharing the good news of God's love with others, we will come
to believe it more deeply ourselves.
