For all the saints

Saints are cross carriers

Traditional  histories of apostles have a number of them facing their death in a similar manner  in which Jesus was put to death outside Jerusalem. These include St Andrew crucified on a X-shaped cross, Peter crucified upside down and it is thought that Bartholomew and Simon the Canaanite met their death in a similar way; by crucifixion. 

But what of we ordinary saints? What are we to make of Jesus words to any would-be follower of him; “…..Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26

We are invited to follow in his footsteps. Like him, we are to be ready to take up our cross, whatever it may be, and carry it behind him. Notice, Jesus tells the disciples to take up their own cross, not his. The cross will be different for each person; it takes the form of some difficult thing. Something not chosen but clear.

Only by uniting our suffering in life to that of Jesus can we carry our crosses. Is there something in my life today or everyday that I am struggling under the weight of? It is then that we need to ask for the grace we need from God to follow Christ.

Must the Christian go around looking for a cross to bear, seeking to suffer? No, insisted Bonhoeffer. Opportunities for bearing crosses will occur along life's way and all that is required is the willingness to act when the time comes. The needs of the neighbour, especially those of the weak and downtrodden, the victimised and the persecuted, the ill and the lonely, will become abundantly evident.

Jesus makes it very clear that it is not an easy way to live. How we understand our life and give it value influences what we consider “saving” or “losing” our life. It also affects the decisions and actions we make.

It is too easy, God

      for faith to become an escape

           - a way to avoid the pain of being human and alive;

      or a path to success

           - a way to persuade the universe to give us the things we want;

      or a system of control

           - a way to bend others to our will

But the faith you offer is different, Jesus,

      more dangerous and compelling;

It's the faith that carries the cross,

      that embraces death

           and lays itself down for the sake of others;

It's the only faith that can lead us to resurrection

      to life renewed and overflowing.

We praise you for this faith, God,

      and open our hearts to receive it.

Amen.