cross-words
“The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men who will put Him to death.” —Matthew 17:22-23
Jesus spoke again to His disciples of His cross and Resurrection. “At these words they were overwhelmed with grief” (Mt 17:23). The first time Jesus had broached the subject of the cross, Peter brushed it off, and “Jesus turned on Peter and said, ‘Get out of My sight, you satan!’ ” (Mt 16:23) After the third time Jesus brought up the cross, James, John, and their mother asked for a promotion in Christ’s kingdom (Mt 20:18-21). The message of the cross did not register at all. Christ crucified continues to be “a stumbling block to Jews, and an absurdity to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb 13:8). He continues to bring up His favorite subject, the cross. Do we refuse to listen, or do we boast in the cross? (Gal 6:14) Will we crucify our “flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:24), or will we continue “crucifying the Son of God for [ourselves]and holding Him up to contempt”? (Heb 6:6) Through the cross, will we be crucified to the world and the world to us? (Gal 6:14) Will we take up the daily cross of Gospel poverty, penance and sacrifice, an austere lifestyle, fasting, forgiveness, evangelization, and Christian community? (see Lk 9:23) Let us live the way of the cross and pray with St. Francis of Assisi: “We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.”
Prayer: Father, may I stay “near the cross” (Jn 19:25).
Promise: “What does the Lord, your God, ask of you but to fear the Lord, your God, and follow His ways exactly, to love and serve the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord which I enjoin on you today for your own good?” —Dt 10:12-13
Praise: St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe voluntarily gave himself up to death for the sake of saving the life of a fellow prisoner.
Reference:
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period August 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 4, 2023
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.