What to Do With Your Cross

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On the heels of our meditation yesterday I could not help myself from sharing this passage from the Spiritual Canticle of St John of the Cross:

We must then dig deeply in Christ. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit. Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides.

For this reason the Apostle Paul said of Christ: In him are hidden all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God. The soul cannot enter into these treasures, nor attain them, unless it first crosses into and enters the thicket of suffering…Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.

Saint Paul therefore urges the Ephesians not to grow weary in the midst of tribulations, but to be steadfast and rooted and grounded in love, so that they may know with all the saints the breadth, the length, the height and the depth – to know what is beyond knowledge, the love of Christ, so as to be filled with all the fullness of God.

The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.

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What should we do with our cross? If you have a cross and you have done all you can to remove it and there is nothing more you can do, then God is allowing it for two reasons:

1.  He is emptying you to make room to fill you with His divine life which will make you more peaceful, more joyful, more happy

2.  Secondly, He is giving you a share in His cross, inviting you to help him rescue souls

a.  So don’t waste your cross; leverage it by accepting it with trust and offering it to Jesus so you can be emptied and filled and you can help Jesus rescue souls.

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Too often we panic with fear when we suffer a cross because we fear we will be destroyed or lose everything we love or worked for. Fear is the fuel. Remove the fuel and the suffering fades. How do we remove the fear? Remember – you are in the hands of God, the hands of the All-Powerful Divine Providence that works all things for good for those who love Him. Therefore, you are safe. If God has allowed this then there is no real danger. He is using it to bring about the greatest good for you, for your loved ones and to rescue souls. With Providence, nothing can destroy you. You are safe.

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Accept your cross of today but today only. Don’t live in the future. You can bear the cross of this moment, how do I know, because you just did…there you did it again. Live in the present moment. Do not fix your gaze on the cross of the future, it is too heavy to bear now. Furthermore, the future never turns out as you imagine it now so why live in an imaginary world that will never exist. The devil uses your fear of the weight of the future to crush you today. Resist him, live in the present moment – rejoicing – thanking God for the blessings of this day and for all God is doing for you through the cross of today.

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Diary of St. Faustina

Then I saw the Lord Jesus nailed to the cross.  When He had hung on it for a while, I saw a multitude of souls crucified like Him.  Then I saw a second multitude of souls, and a third.  The second multitude was not nailed to [their] crosses but were holding them firmly in their hands.  The third were neither nailed to [their] crosses nor holding them firmly in their hands but were dragging [their]crosses behind them and were discontent.  Jesus then said to me.  Do you see these souls?  Those who are like Me in the pain and contempt they suffer will be like Me also in glory.  And those who resemble Me less in pain and contempt will also bear less resemblance to Me in glory.

To prevent us from dragging our cross with discontent let us remember these words of John of the Cross:

When you are burdened you are close to God your strength Who abides with the afflicted. When you are relieved of the burden you are close to yourself, your own weakness; for virtue and strength of soul grow and are confirmed in trials of patience. Sayings 4