When Peter did not accept the revelation of Jesus' suffering, rejection, and death on the cross, Jesus called Peter "satan" (Mk 8:33). This word means "adversary." If we downplay the necessity of the cross, we are adversaries of Jesus, enemies of God (see Jas 4:4), antichrists (see 1 Jn 2:18), "enemies of the cross" (Phil 3:18).
Jesus wants us to embrace the cross, kiss it, take it up each day (Lk 9:23), speak of nothing but Christ crucified (1 Cor 2:2), and boast of nothing but the cross (Gal 6:14). It is the sign of our salvation and of the Lord's perfect love for us. We put crosses in our churches, around our necks, and in our pockets. More importantly, we choose to take up crosses of persecution, self-sacrifice, or rejection.
We are the people of the cross. With St. Francis of Assisi, the prayer of our heart is: "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world!"
Lift high the cross!
| PRAYER: | Father, may I be near the cross with Mary (see Jn 19:25). |
| PROMISE: | "In the image of God has man been made." –Gn 9:6 |
| PRAISE: | David accepted his cross when his conversion to Christianity caused his Jewish family to reject him. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College