John 3:14; "So must the Son of Man be lifted up."
By REV. FR. PAUL ANIGBORO
Today we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. A feast that reminds us of the fact we need to embrace our cross and carry it in order to gain heaven. However many run away from this reality and forget that faith is tested and strengthened in crises. Spiritual growth doesn't normally occur in easy, comfortable times. We cannot rise to higher realms if we don't first realize that there is something to climb away from.
Like the first reading of today, our patience has been worn out by the journey. We complain against God. While enduring trials, we complain that he should be answering our prayers faster or in a different way, because we don't like waiting and we don't like the extra effort it takes for our sufferings to end.
Complaints are based on hopelessness and lack of trust in God. Complaints are based on what we see with our eyes, as if we can trust our eyes to see the whole picture. Faith tells us that there is a much bigger picture than what we could know or understand. Faith tells us that God has been working a plan, his own strategies, to turn our sufferings into a greater good. Embrace your cross for it is the road to salvation. Let us remember the words of Christ in Matt. 16:24, that if anyone wants to my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.
Lord, may we have eyes to see the Cross of Christ lifted above the disasters that have been happening in our own lives, above our fears and grief and anger! Amen.
Good morning and do have a wonderful weekend. God loves you.
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