Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple
Each of us has our own cross to carry; the weaknesses of body, mind or spirit, which affect our lives,
or loneliness, illness, failure, and our personal secret problems. All of us carry burdens which are known or unknown to others.
Our cross may be caused by others: we may be victims of greed and violence, or of others’ addictions.
For the Lord himself carried the cross of poverty and misunderstanding, of bereavement when Joseph died, or loss of friends like Lazarus, or the pain of his mother as he went to death; he has carried burdens like ours.
And each cross is different; at times we feel we could carry another’s cross more lightly. And we resent the crosses of our lives caused by others.
The Lord has suffered, and promises us the companionship we need. He weeps with us, suffers with us, promises friendship now and forever.
Our way of the cross, like his, is the path to resurrection. With our hand in his wounded hand, we can carry the burdens life brings, and follow him with confidence, and with a helping hand to carry the crosses of others.
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