*IDENTITY
When I was told that I had only a year or less to live I immediately identified with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. I had been asked to enter more deeply into the mystery of his death and resurrection. Gift of Peace, p132-3)+-
The greater the depth, the less the span. The number of humans identifying with the Supreme identity is very small. And in that identity, all beings, high or low, sacred or profane, are indeed seen to be prefect manifestations of Spirit, precisely as they are - no lower, no higher. But this realization is not given equally to all beings, even though all beings are equally manifestations of Spirit. This realization is the result of a developmental and evolutionary process of growth and transcendence. (Everything, p39)
By identifying our crosses/sufferings with Jesus' sufferings and death we can vicariously experience his passion/feelings, for example, when I pulled an all nighter at work to restore the system, I felt abandoned by my staff (disciples, Ev on vac and Jordan's answer machine), antoganized by users of their inconvenience and non-understanding/non-sympathy/ingratitude, but appreciative by those who had some understanding after having done my sacrifice (because of my responsibility). By me relating that experience to how Jesus must have felt I had a glimpse that God has magnamous feelings and love. I thought of myself as no longer a virgin, but later I thought more to be like a whore that had its faults exposed. (Randy)
The message of the cross is "foolishness to those perishing, but to those being saved is the power of God." By realizing our sufferings/crosses are a rich source of nourishment, it awakens us from our slumbering selves that to entermingle Jesus' and our crosses is to see wisdom and power on our God. We should envite Christ into our crosses. (Message from Francisan Friars, 8/30/96)