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Grace: To find joy in the Cross of Christ
SS: Rom 8:28; John 12:24-26; Luke 13:22-30; Luke 9:23-27
Suffering and tribulation are inevitably and eventually the lot of everyone on this earth. But suffering of itself alone neither transforms nor purifies. It may even be the cause of rebellion and hatred. Some Christians abandon Our Lord when they meet the Cross, because they seek a purely human happiness, free from pain and accompanied by material wealth.
God asks us to lose our fear of pain and tribulation and unite ourselves to him, as He waits for us on the Cross. Our soul will then be more purfied, our love stronger. And we will realize that joy is inseparable from the Cross. Not only that, but we will also understand we can never be happy if we are not united with Christ on Cross, and that we will never know how to love if we do not at the same time love sacrifice...If we humbly have recourse to God, He will make us see that everything, even events and circumstances apparently least likely to do so, work together for the good of those who love him. Suffering, when seen in its true light, when it serves as a means of loving more, produces great peace and deep joy. That is why God often blesses us with the Cross.
That is how we must travel along the way of self giving: the Cross on our shoulders, a smile on our lips and light in our hearts.
--taken from In Conversation with God by Francis Fernandez, pgs 159 & 160.
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