*CROSS - see SUFFERING, SACRIFICE, PAIN, STRUGGLE, DEATH, TRANSCEND
The Cross is a reality in every Christian's journey. (Prayer, p223)
There is not a hair's breadth between the cross of Christ and our cross. The crucified Christ is one with us as we carry our crosses. Chris with the desire to save mankind takes hold of us and fills it with that same desire. We live; it is not our flesh that lives, however, but the 'body' of Christ. (Zen & Bible, p159)
To face suffering symbolized by the cross is paradoxically to be set free from the paralyzing illusion of self-sufficiency. (Dark Night, p16)
I wonder if: we cross over from evil to good, from humanity to divine, from death to life, from hate to love, from unforgivingness to forgivingness, from this life to the after-life. I wonder if: the cross is a sign of humanities evilness (crucifixtion) and divine goodness (forgivingness) when they both go to the extremes. I wonder if: Jesus suffered more from being abandoned from God for the first time ever (as he take on our sins) rather than the physical pain. (Randy)
Cross shows how God loves us limitlessly (a love that will bear every suffering earth has to offer, even death. (???)
"Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me." If you die with him, you will live with him. If you join him in suffering, you will join him in glory. There is no other road to life and to true inner peace than the road of the holy cross and of our daily dying to ourselves. God wants you to learn to endure troubles without comfort, to submit yourself totally to him, and to become more humble through adversity. If you bear your cross willingly, it will carry you and lead you to your desired goal where suffering will end [in heaven.] You are deluded if you look for anything other than affliction, for our entire mortal life is surrounded by CROSSES. And the more we progress in the spiritual life, the heavier our crosses will be, for the pain of our separation from God increases in proportion to our love of God. But one who bears many crosses is not without some comfort, for he knows the great rewards that will come to him by patiently accepting God's will. And the more a person's body is weakened by affliction, the more his spirit is strengthened by inner grace. Sometimes, through the love of conforming himself to Christ's cross, a person is so comforted by his trials and afflictions that he does not want to be without them, for he believes that the more and heavier burdens he can bear for Christ, the more acceptable he will become to him. For such a person, patiently living out God's will becomes a blessing. When you have come to enduring pain and sorrow for Christ's sake is sweet and pleasing to you, then think that all is well with you for you have found paradise on earth. The less self-centered you become, the more you become centered in God. You are not fit to understand heavenly things unless you resign yourself to bearing adversities for Christ. (Imitation, book2, ch12)
*CRUCIFY/*CRUCIFIED/*CRUCIFIX/*CRUCIFIXION - also see DEATH.
The words in the song "Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?" are troublesome because we were all involved as part of humanity in those events long ago. (HA 4/9/96)
Looking at our solid gold crucifixes and realize that the original wasn't that pretty. (Randy)
God offers us a share in the Crucifixion. We're lovers of God and everyone else until called on to endure something; and then, like the child who's been disciplined, we pout, throw tantrums and threaten to hold our breath. Self-made experts think that religion is valid and genuine only as long as it makes you feel good and that Christ must have felt great on that solid gold crucifix. (Crucifix, p78)
The CRUCIFIXION shows people the nature of the love of God's messenger and, by inference, the nature of the love of God. The crucifixion shows the real possibility of love, and so calls us to turn and accept God's love. (Common Sense, p167)