www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology What does the cross mean to you?

What does it mean to you to carry your cross? What do Jesus' words about taking up our cross daily and follow Him mean to you? As I come from the western tradition, I have found comfort in the writings of Thomas a Kempis and St. Therese but I would love to read writings by easterns on suffering and carrying the cross. Orthodox, Catholic, I don't care. Just something to help me get through my days.
Thanks so much!

St. Paul has good advice for you Lasha:

1 Cor. 1:18-25
18 For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness; but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the prudence of the prudent I will reject. 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world, by wisdom, knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save them that believe. 22 For both the Jews require signs, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness: 24 But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

I will post more later if you like, but I gotta go home!

Dear Lasha,

I think it means to accept the sufferings and trials of this life with patience, and to recognize that suffering has a purpose. In our hedonistic age, we forget that. It can bring about good if we let it.

God bless,

Karen

A Roman Catholic Prayer Card
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"Learning Christ"

Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet and gentle in all the events of life-

in disappointments,
in the thoughtlessness of others,
in the insincerity of those I trusted,
in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied.

Let me put myself aside,
to think of the happiness of others,
to hide my little pains and heartaches,
so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.

Teach me to profit by the suffering that may cross my path.

Let me so use it that it may mellow me, not
harden nor embitter me;

that it may make me patient, not irritable;
that it may make me broad in my forgiveness,
not narrow, haughty and overbearing.

May no one be less good for having come within my influence. No one less pure, less true, less kind, less noble for having been a fellow-traveler in our journey towards Eternal Life.
As I go my rounds from one distraction to another, let me whisper from time to time, a word of love to Thee. May my life be lived in the supernatural, full of power for good, and strong in its purpose of sanctity.
____________

Farren-Curtis Press, 152 Purchase St., Boston, Mass

From the writings of St. Isaac of Nineveh ("On Ascetrical Life"):

The way to God consists in a daily cross: no one can ascend to heaven in comfort - we know where the road to comfort leads!

The desire of the Spirit for those in whom the Spirit dwells is not to let them grow accustomed to laziness, or to invite them to a life of ease, but rather to one of labors and much affliction. Accordingly the Spirit teaches them wakefulness, strengthens them in trials, and brings them to wisdom.

A time of trial is beneficial to everyone: the diligent are tried so that their wealth may increase; the lax, so that they may be preserved from harm; those spiritually asleep, so that they may prepare themselves for watchfulness; those who are far from God, so that they approach Him; those who are God's close associates, so that they may come closer to Him in freedom of speech.

Thanks guys!