Daily we have a chance to die. This death is to all that is in the world. It is not taking our lives in suicide or a spiritual death, but rather dying to those desires and delights that hold us captive. It can be surprising what holds control over our hearts. It could be a house, family members, or even a piece of artwork.
The image of Jesus Crucified has always inspired believers. It inspires devotion and reminds Christians of His sacrifice for their sins. But I now see a secondary example in this death. Beyond the salvation of souls, the Crucifixion is a model for the kind of life we are to live in this world. For Jesus said, "whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, pick up your cross, and come follow me." (Matthew 16:24). We often ascribe to the latter part of this verse and agree to follow our Savior, but we disregard or try to reinterpret the part about picking up our cross. Each person has a different cross to bear and if they choose to embrace it as our Savior did; they shall find on their Via Del Rosa (road of suffering) a closeness with the Creator and Christ.
The cross is not meant to be merely a symbol of devotion and identification for Christians. It is meant to be our absolute identity and purpose in this life. We are to "die daily," (1 Corinthians 15:31) and carry our cross tell we have "finished the race." (2 Timothy 4:7). To be a follow of Jesus is to follow the same road our Lord did. Our crucifixion may not be a physical scourging and being nailed to an actual cross; it maybe having to give up everything in this world that seeks to draw us away from the Lord. It may be our families we symbolically nail to the beam. It maybe our possessions that we pin to the cross post. For each of us it will be different, but make no mistake you cannot get away with leaving your cross (suffering) to others. If you endeavor to escape carrying out that which will refine and redeem your character in this life; you shall find yourself facing it in the next.
I have not ascribed to Purgatory before. I have always believed in heaven and hell. But if purgatory or "the Outer Darkness," is a place for those who refused to pick up their crosses and follow Jesus through the sufferings and boot camp of this life; then I can understand how the concept of purgatory could work. Rather than a punishment for sinners who would not do penance and preferred to sin; purgatory could be a place where Christians saved by fire ("If a man's work that he builds remains, than he shall receive his reward. If it is burnt up, the builder shall suffer loss but yet will be saved even though as one escaping through the flames," 1 Corithinians 3:15) must be trained in suffering and learn what we who chose to carry our crosses in this life learned from Jesus Christ and develop that close connection with Him.
The true fact is that suffering in this life is not part of some penitential act we must preform for Jesus. No, He already paid the price for our Sins. Suffering rather is a conduit to Christ. I am not speaking about self imposed suffering or self abasement as it is called. No I mean genuine suffering for Christ's sake. This authentic form of suffering for the Savior leads us into a close relationship with our Lord. For we not only begin to understand in a extremely small measure what He suffered on our behalf, but we by crucifying our flesh (that which desires the world and our own comforts) find our character and nature becoming more like the Lord Jesus. It is what St. Paul was talking about when He said, "be not of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." (Romans 12:2). This transformation process requires a cross (of sufferings) and if we carry it through to the end we will transform more and more into being like Jesus.
Many Christians will not pick up the cross. The Lord calls to them, but they do not want to be apart of such hardship. Many will rather stay in a place of comfort and become friends of the world and enemies of the Father in Heaven (James 4:4). As a result they shall find they have gained the world, but lost their soul. The cross is the path to not only losing the yoke of the world, but to saving our souls by embracing Jesus Christ to the zenith. Rather than follow Jesus' because He prospers us, we follow Him because we love Him and are willing to endure the sufferings to be with Him and know Him in a deeper way. It is not a penance, but a privilege! It is not punishment, but a purpose. The more we die to this world and all that comes between us and our Savior, the closer we come to Him and through carrying the cross of suffering and loss, we will find that we will shine and find unlimited love in our Savior Jesus Christ! The calling to carry the cross is not for the faint of heart and many will fail because of fear or faint because of the fires of refinement, But those who stand firm and continue carrying the sufferings they have been allotted; they shall find the consolation of Christ. Daily as we die to this world and our lusts; Christ will draw closer to us; for when those things that held our hearts and dominated our passions fade away, there is a open place for Our Lord and Savior to dwell.
The greatest calling is to imitate (be like) or copy Christ in this life. Our call is to carry a cross and die daily. The world will hate you and many will not understand you. There will be times when you find yourself alone with only Jesus Christ. Like what our Lord experienced in Gethsemane, your closest friends will be fast asleep and the Temple (temptations, trials, and tribulations) guards coming to trap and tare at you. In those moments we must do as Christ did and say when they (devils and men) call to us and ask "who is the one that calls on Jesus?" We shall respond, "I am he."
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