The cross is a central image of our Christian faith. The cross calls us to remember that we have been forgiven of our sins through Christ’s sacrificial action. By entering into the cross we come to be saved. As we are told in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” As the Book of Galatians tells us, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
In today’s Epistle we are warned against those who live the opposite of the cross and thus in Saint Paul’s words become “enemies of the cross of Christ.” It is these individuals who want nothing to do with the cross. Sacred Scripture tell us to “take up the cross and follow me.” These individuals want to live out a faith in name only without embracing everything that goes with the faith that we profess.
Within the Church we find people who profess the Catholic faith with their lips, but they allow their life to be kept away from conversion. Christ and His Church are not what is important in forming their consciences to truth because they would rather do as they wish. In Such a manner they take on a cafeteria mentality where they are able to pick and choose what they will believe. In such a fashion they separate themselves from the Church in order to form a church that is made in their own image.
Where we are tempted to enter into such a reality we must stand firm in the faith that we profess with our lips. Enemies of the cross can give rise not only to thought, but through practice. The faith holds us to a moral standard that we cannot compromise due to the assaults of the enemy. Even if nobody sees us committing such an action does not give us credence to do so for we must continue to align ourself to the cross and the conversion that is calls us to encounter.
In order to “take up the cross” we must enter into a relationship with the Lord. In taking up the cross we join ourself to Him who has already bore and triumphed over the weight of the wood. Therefore, in so far as we are willing to enter into relationship with Him we are not left alone to go through the various temptations of this life alone.
This past week we celebrated the Solemnity of All Saints which serves as a celebration of all the saints known and unknown who are in Heaven. As our Epistle also reminded us, “Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we looked for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.” May we continue to look for Him in all that we do that we too may strive for this Heavenly Kingdom just like all of the saints.
The saints were not enemies of the cross, but came to embrace it in order that they may truly live. Likewise, let us come to embrace the cross and the salvation that has been won therein.
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
