This week is the beginning of Lent, moving toward Christ's ultimate expression of love. The cross, previously a symbol of shame, was transformed into love. We Christians often talk about cross bearing. And I think we often get it all wrong. We see cross bearing as something distasteful that has fallen into our lives and we have to deal with it... an illness, bad relationship, struggles in a job.
This is not Cross bearing. Jesus chose the way of the cross out of love... it wasn't something terrible that fell into his life. He chose it.. You see, cross bearing is choosing to do something that I do not have to do, but want to do because I care.
When my mother was still living alone on the farm, Sylvia would bring her dinner or a pie from time to time. She called every day to see how Mom was doing. Sylvia lived almost two miles away. She was Amish... she walked. She cared. She loved.
This is what Jesus meant. |