Memento Crucem. . .
Few things make people’s blood run cold as the prospect of facing the crosses they have in life. We live for little distractions and diversions with the hope that our cross will go and find someone else to pester. But when we have had enough of our apps or naps the cross is still standing there, waiting for us to face it. We cannot avoid it forever. We cannot go to heaven without carrying our cross with us. I wonder if carrying our cross to the gates of heaven is the key to passing through the gates. There is not a secret handshake or password, just our cross, worn down with splinters with little gashes missing. Maybe at death we exchange the cross for the crown.
We spend so much energy trying to avoid obstacles to our growth in holiness and refuse to acknowledge our weaknesses. Imagine if we just spent our energy carrying our burdens and helping others to carry theirs with love. I think this will be much easier, because the Lord has promised us that we will not carry our crosses alone. Maybe this weekend we can look at how much time and energy we have spent avoiding difficulties in oursevles and others, and how much we could have saved if we just humbly carried them.
