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Pick up your cross, follow the Lord

By Father Dennis Meinen
View from the scooter

A fiery priest was preaching a homily about the need to pick up our cross or crosses, whatever they are, and follow the Lord. His voice rose as he told his congregation to accept the challenge all Christians are called to accept and not shirk from their responsibility to patiently endure whatever suffering they were presented with in life. His face became red and He clenched his fist as he shouted, "Glory in your cross! Lift it up and raise it high! And a woman of ample proportions sitting in the front pew picked up her pint-sized husband and lifted him high. Why not if he was her cross?

The challenge to carry our cross is given to us by Jesus in the gospels. "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow in my steps is not fit to be my disciple.” In Luke’s gospel, one word is added: DAILY. This is something disabled people know far too well. We can all relate to the difficulty in accepting the daily burdens of life whatever they are. Whether they are physical, emotional or spiritual. There are times in our lives when the full impact of Jesus' words hit home with frightening force and we are tempted to turn away from Jesus and follow in his footsteps no longer. For example it's hard for a person to pick up their cross and follow Jesus after enduring financial or medical difficulties for years. What do those with a disability do when their healthy spouse wants out of the marriage - when the cross that has suddenly been thrust upon them seems to exceed their ability to carry it?

When such a cross finds its way into our life, we must recall that there was a time in the life of Jesus when his cross was too heavy to carry alone and when that time came, Jesus had to accept the help of a stranger, Simon of Cyrene. Just think of it. The Son of God, the Savior of the world, had to admit to Himself and to the world that He lacked the strength to carry His cross. And if the Son of God had the humility to do this, then certainly we should admit when we have been broken by the circumstances of life and need help.

To whom do we reach out? First we reach out to Jesus Himself He knows what it’s like to stagger and fall beneath a cross. He knows what it's like to have to humble yourself and accept help from another.

What then does Jesus mean when He says that those who do not carry their cross cannot be His disciple? I don't think He was referring to those who are unable. I think Jesus is telling us that we can't step over or around the crosses in our lives but must embrace them and accept help from others as well as help others to carry their crosses.

But there is a reward for those who carry their cross. What is the reward? He never tells us what the reward will be because He doesn't want our motivation for doing these things to get a reward. On that final day God will reward each person as God wills.

The challenge for us today is to lift our cross ... to lift it high. And to help others carry theirs too.