Very soon we will enter into the season of Lent. This season will draw us close to the cross of our Blessed Lord as we prepare ourself for the celebration of Easter.
As Christ came to state from the Gospel of Saint Matthew: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
The cross by its very nature is an instrument of death. There is not anything which is pleasant about it. So often we adorn ourself with the cross, but do we truly allow ourself to contemplate its meaning?
Throughout the Lenten season we will contiusely receive this invitation. The more we move towards the cross the more we will move towards virtue and come to abandon vice. This is precisely why those practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are so important. Sadly, we live in a world that likes to feast, but rejects the importance of fasting. With this Lent as well as our faith calls us to practices which call us to moderate everything in its God given purpose.
The cross must become a central element of our life. As stated by Saint Josemaria Escriva: “How beautiful are those crosses on the summits of high mountains, and crowning great monuments, and on the pinnacles of cathedrals...! But the Cross must also be inserted in the very heart of the world.”
If the world or our own life is run rampant by sin we cannot say that we have come to embrace the cross. With that Saint Josemaria Escriva continues: “Wherever there is a Christian striving to lead an honorable life, he should, with is love, set up the Cross of Christ, who attracts all things to Himself.”
Here we see that all is not attracted to us, but unto the Lord. It is my hope that we will make the Lenten season a time of fruitful resolve. Embrace the reality that Friday is a day of penance for this is the day the Lord expired upon the cross in order that we may be healed and saved from the plight of sin and death. On Friday pray the Stations of the Cross, make sure to abstain from meat, and insert other forms of penance to draw you close to this reality.
From Saint Josemaria Escriva we are told of the importance of the cross: “before you start working, place a crucifix on your desk or beside the tools you work with. From time to time glance at it... When tiredness creeps in, your eyes will go towards Jesus, and you will find new strength to continue with your task.”
