"Take up your cross and follow Me..." A childhood, or more precisely half-childhood, story comes to mind. A man found himself in the most desperate situation, whether because of family tragedies and troubles or because of money, which was not enough even for the most basic necessities. So he cried out to God with reproach...
"Take up your cross and follow Me..." A childhood, or more precisely half-childhood, story comes to mind. A man found himself in the most desperate situation, whether because of family tragedies and troubles or because of money, which was not enough even for the most basic necessities. So he cried out to God with reproach, saying, in effect, that his cross was too heavy. And the Lord said to him: Very well, have it your way. I will invite you to Heaven, and you yourself will choose the cross that will be within your strength. And so He did. The man walks along, and around him stand various crosses, as in our cemeteries: there are small wooden ones, there are metal ones, and there are huge stone ones, taller than a person. He walks and walks, and he sees a cross that pleases him: this one, he says, I choose. And the Lord, smiling, says to him: but that is your cross.
In fact, something simple is being said here, simple but important. We often complain about our life, but just try making us drag someone else's cross, and we will cry out. Because we are weak and frail. Only the Lord was able to make all our little crosses merge into His one Cross by the power of His all-good might. Therefore: "and I keep repeating: if things go badly for me, they were worse for my God and more painful for the Mother of God" (N.S. Gumilev)
But why should it hurt at all? Why should we have to drag these cursed crosses at all? Why could it not have been done without this? This question has no answer, but is it not joy to be with the Lord, is it not joy to do something so that it may become even a little easier for Him? It is, is it not? If so, we need only see this, realize that by carrying our cross we share in God's suffering and lighten it. How can we see this? Simply pray, and then you will see. Pray, presenting yourself to God not in some particular form, but in all simplicity. Thanking Him for this highest joy in the world: to be needed by someone.
2
2:1 My brethren - The equality of Christians, intimated by this name, is the ground of the admonition. Hold not the faith of our common Lord, the Lord of glory - Of which glory all who believe in him partake. With respect of persons - That is, honour none merely for being rich; despise none merely for being poor.
2:2 With gold rings - Which were not then so common as now.
2:3 Ye look upon him - With respect.
2:4 Ye distinguish not - To which the most respect is due, to the poor or to the rich. But are become evil - reasoning judges - You reason ill, and so judge wrong: for fine apparel is no proof of worth in him that wears it.
2:5 Hearken - As if he had said, Stay, consider, ye that judge thus. Does not the presumption lie rather in favour of the poor man? Hath not God chosen the poor - That is, are not they whom God hath chosen, generally speaking, poor in this world? who yet are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom - Consequently, the most honourable of men: and those whom Godso highly honours, ought not ye to honour likewise?
2:6 Do not the rich often oppress you - By open violence; often drag you - Under colour of law.
2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name - Of God and of Christ. The apostle speaks chiefly of rich heathens: but are Christians, so called, a whit behind them?
2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law - The supreme law of the great King which is love; and that to every man, poor as well as rich, ye do well. Lev 19:18.
2:9 Being convicted - By that very law. Exo 23:3.