Carrying our Cross

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come
after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

-Matthew 16:24

What does it mean for one to "pick up his cross" and follow Christ. This evening I had the unique opportunity to go on a Stations of the Cross "pilgrimage" around Menomonie, WI. Now this was no ordinary stations. The leaders of the Newman Catholic Students decided that rather than showing us the same stations we all know they would show us modern day things that represents the stages Christ went through in his Crucifixion.

As we walked from such sights as the vocational rehab building to the alley M&I Bank, to Buck's Bar we learned what each station continues to mean in the world today. The other unique opportunity we had was to actually carry the cross from station to station. Various members of the group were given a station to read for. After they read their station they were given the cross to carry to the next station. One of the most touching stations was station 12 "Jesus Dies on the Cross." At this point we looked over a looked over a basin to the land below and around us as the reader read. As we stood there in awe and prayer Father Tom sang "Were You There" to really put us in the mood. The whole scene was a very emotional one for me and others.

So does Christ really want us to pick up a physical cross and carry it? Short answer, no. Metaphorically Christ wants us to pick up the burdens in our life. To take responsibility for our action and words. Now there is something to be said about carrying a physical cross itself. In Jesus' day (and still many today) a cross of the size is not a light thing. It is heavy and weighs the carrier down. Not only does it take a toll on the body, but combine that with an already weakened Jesus and you can understand why he used this metaphor. The burdens we carry in life are not easy to carry. If they were carrying them wouldn't be such a hard task. God wants us to carry them in order to realize follow him, but he doesn't want us to do it alone.

God wants to help us carry our crosses. He sent Christ to forgive us of our sins and to give us everlasting life. He just wants us to be able to admit them and ask for help. When we ask for help with our crosses God is there to help us carry them. Nobody should go through life alone carrying that cross by themselves. We have friends and family that will help us carry them just as Jesus did. Friends to pick us up when we fall, and friends to wipe our faces. This life isn't meant to be lived looking out for only number one. We need each other, so don't close the door on those relationships. Welcome them and embrace them, just as you embrace the love and relationship with God and his son Jesus Christ. Say no to yourself and these Earthly ways. Embrace the way of Jesus, and ask him to help you carry that cross.