A Sign, an Invitation, a Revelation

This reflection is based partly from a homily given by one of my parish priests on Good Friday.

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The cross tells us much about Jesus and about the Father. The cross gives us three things to think about in relationship to our faith life. First, the cross is a sign. It is a sign of how much Jesus loves us. He loves us enough to die for us. And he does not die for us collectively but rather, for each one of us as an individual person who he calls and invites to something more.

What is this something more? It is the cross as an invitation. He asks us to take up our cross and follow him. By taking up our cross we share in the weight of Jesus’ cross. We become a disciple. And then the cross reveals who Jesus is – the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). It also reveals the depths of the Father’s love for us in giving us his son.

This has stayed with me and stayed in my consciousness for days. I have been turning it over in my brain and letting it settle in my soul. The cross is a visual manifestation and reminder of the faith journey we are called to as disciples. Here are a few questions I have been praying and thinking about since this homily. How have I embraced Jesus’ love for me? Do I pick up my cross willingly or grudgingly? Do I take on projects or tasks and turn them into crosses? How do I reveal Jesus to others? Am I a good disciple?

And since you are often asked to share your thoughts on a question, I will get the sharing started by answering “How have I embraced Jesus’ love for me?” I struggle with believing in unconditional, self-less love poured out for me. I know it in my head, but in my soul, not as well as one would think if you knew me personally. I remind myself that it is a process and that God is with me through it all.

It's your turn now if you’d like to answer a question from above.