John 3
On this feast day of the Exaltation of the Cross, we think about our crosses. What is my cross? A simple answer would be my commitment. If I feel free to let it down and walk away, it is not truly my cross. Often our spouses become our crosses. Do you agree? We feel obliged to carry our spouses throughout our life. We know we cannot freely leave them. Why? Because we have committed ourselves to our marriage relationships before God. Nobody should have forced us to commit ourselves. We have taken this relationship freely. Therefore, we bear all responsibilities and duties from the marriage.
But, there is another key element for the cross. As God joined us and blessed us in marriage, God blesses our crosses. In this sense, my cross is not only a human commitment but also a divine blessing. Look at our children. Parents commit themselves to their children, but, at the same time, children are God’s gifts and blessings for parents. Religious vows and holy orders are the same. These are both human commitments and God’s gifts and blessings. What about our jobs? They are also our true crosses because not only do we choose them but also God orders and blesses human labour. In short, our crosses are human commitments as God’s gift and blessing.
Are they easy to carry? Never. This is why we always feel tempted to run away from our crosses. This is what Satan always tempts us – to walk away from our crosses. He even tried to tempt Jesus! Look at our times. More than ever, people don’t want commitment. The matrimony numbers in the local churches have plummeted in recent years. Our society encourages us to have as many options as possible even in relationships. People may feel free when they have no commitment. But at the same time, people do not enjoy God’s gifts and blessings when they have no commitment. In other words, when people don’t carry crosses, they may feel light and free, but, they will not receive the eventual reward of life eternal.
Our crosses are not too extraordinary or heroic. Our crosses are already in our commitments. Let us love our commitments. Then, we will find Jesus in our commitments, because he shares our crosses and he commits himself to all of us.
