Your Crosses my Crosses, the Holy Cross

    I read something a long time ago that has just stuck with me all these years. The saying went something like this: “If we formed a huge circle of people and wanted to throw in our cross for an easier cross. Guess what would happen? Strangely enough we would choose the cross that was given to us by God to carry. Interesting analogy, isn’t it? When we compare our burdens and troubles with someone else’s, we get really weighted down by our own difficult cross. I sometimes look at others and their crosses seem so much easier to carry and to live with than mine. This doesn’t help me to embrace the crosses God has given to me. It only makes my cross harder and more difficult to carry because my heart fills up with resentment and unhappiness which leads to a feeling of hopelessness.

    What crosses are you weighted down by today? Some crosses are temporary and do go away at times. We are very thankful when that happens. Also, we realize that uniting our crosses to Jesus’ passion mysteriously seem to lighten the heaviness of our burdens.

    I believe when we accept our crosses and embrace them, Jesus comes and lightens the heaviness of our cross. When I am in the midst of trying with all my heart to accept my cross, I recall the words of Scripture: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me This takes surrendering to Jesus knowing that as I surrender my burdens to Him, Jesus promises that He will strengthen me each moment, each hour and each day.

    At times, sometimes I try to run from my crosses such as my difficult marriage. Instead of dealing with the issues facing me, I slip into a denial and pretend everything is okay. I ignore the issues by keeping so busy. This may work for awhile but it only makes matters worse. When I truly, with all my heart, surrender my marriage and the difficulties to Jesus, that is when Jesus carries me and places me in His Most Sacred Heart. Jesus whispers gently: “I give you this difficult cross. Embrace it. I am carrying you and your husband through this very troublesome time. I make all things new again. This I promise you. Love your husband where he is at and you will begin to see the goodness in his heart. Trust in Me.”

    With Jesus all things are made sweeter. We all face difficult situations that can sap us of our strength and drain us of our Jesus joy and peace. But I have found by surrendering all to Jesus and embracing whatever cross Jesus has chosen for me this day, it becomes easier and the suffering becomes sweet filled with His joy, peace and love.

    I embrace the beautiful words found in the book entitled: Treasures of the Rosary by Father Rocky of Relevant Radio inspiring and filled with hope: (The Carrying of the Cross) “See how lovingly Jesus embraces the Cross. Learn from him—Jesus carried the Cross for you…carry it for Jesus. But don’t drag the Cross…Carry it squarely on your shoulder, because your Cross, if you carry it like that, will not just be any Cross: it will be…the Holy Cross. Don’t carry your Cross with resignation: resignation is not a generous word. Love the Cross. When you really love it, your Cross will be a Cross, without a Cross. And surely you will find Mary on the way, just as Jesus did.”

    These are very inspiring words to meditate on and try to put into practice. However, it is far easy said than done. Isn’t it? Sometimes I picture myself dragging my cross begrudgingly. And that cross becomes so heavy and burdensome, I fall flat on my face. That’s when Jesus picks me up and whispers in my heart “Daughter, with Me your cross will become manageable but by yourself you will continue to fall and be very sad. Pick up your Cross and follow me. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. Then you will have my joy and peace in the midst of carrying your cross.”

Let us Pray: O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.