Power of the Cross Reflections

Taking Up Our Cross. . .To Stay with Jesus Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I feel “lucky” to carry the cross that God has given me? Seek—Keep the cross of Christ before you at all times. Let it be a reminder of Christ’s forgiveness for you when you feel sorrowful for your sins. Let it be a sign of God’s love for others when you are tempted to judge. Let it be a light that you can share w...

Taking Up Our Cross. . .Be Not Afraid Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Is life a series of “gifts” from God or tragedies? Seek—Encounter the empty tombs of life with the expectation that they are signs of the Risen Christ. Knock—Meditate on 1 John 4:18–19. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love....

Taking Up Our Cross. . .In Imitation of Christ Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Am I willing to do small things for Christ? Seek—Volunteer to do a task that no one wants to do, a menial or unpleasant one, all the while uniting yourself with the Passion and death of Jesus. Knock—Meditate on Philippians 2:5–8. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was...

Taking Up Our Cross. . .Be Prepared Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—How well do I prepare for the Eucharist I receive at Mass? Seek——Try to participate fully in the Eucharist each time you are present; if possible, attend daily. Be mindful of what you do at Mass, what you hear and how you respond. Learn more about the Mass. Knock—Meditate on 1 Corinthians 11:27–30. Whoever, therefore, eats...

Taking Up Our Cross. . .To Follow the Lord Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—How often do I trust my own instincts, and how often do I entrust myself to Jesus? Seek—Try to live each day with a resignation to God’s will, accepting each moment with the expectation that God might be breaking through to you. Knock—Meditate on 1 Peter 5:6–9. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God...

Taking Up Our Cross. . .In Reverence Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I reverence God? Seek—Find a way to adore God today, be it in the Eucharist or in the secrecy of your room, or anywhere. When you see the shape of the cross, say the prayer that St. Francis instructed his brothers and sisters to say, “We adore you Christ and we praise you present here and in all the Churches throughout...

Taking Up Our Cross. . .In Abandonment Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I believe in God’s providential care? Seek—Cry out to God to save you. Realize what it means to say that God is your Savior. Frequently call to mind all that you need to be saved from and have recourse to God who alone can save you. Knock—Meditate on Romans 13:12–14. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put...

The Cross of Christ Restores. . .Justice Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I see myself as a child of God? Seek——Focus on the crucified Christ as you meet him throughout the day. Stand up for your brother or sister, always appealing to the brother or sister who might seek to harm him or her. Knock—Meditate on Micah 2:12–13. I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob, I will gather the remnan...

The Cross of Christ Restores. . .The Dignity of Work Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Am I doing what God wants me to do? Seek—To pray, to put God first in all things, in every aspect of your life. Ask God to bless your home and your work, making all that you do fruitful. Knock—Meditate on Genesis 2:2–3. And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done. (. . . )So God blessed t...

The Cross of Christ Restores. . .Obedience Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Am I obedient to the commands of Jesus? Seek—To be open to God. Receive the Eucharist and ask God to enrich you with his Body and Blood, enabling you to be an obedient son or daughter, abiding in Christ. Knock—Meditate on 1 John 2:3–6. And by this we may be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He who s...

The Cross of Christ Restores. . .Our Freedom Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Are there areas of my life where I am still enslaved? Seek—Persevere in the teaching of Jesus. Experience the joy of the small victories when standing your ground against the enemy, especially when he seeks to seduce you back into the slavery of sin. Knock—Meditate on Romans 6:22–23. But now that you have been set...

The Cross of Christ Restores. . .The Image of God Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—What can make me more like Christ in his humility? Seek—Ask God to reveal to you his purpose for your life. When you do not feel accepted by others, look to the rejection that Jesus endured on the cross and unite your suffering to his. Knock—Meditate on Numbers 21:8–9. And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery...

The Cross of Christ Restores. . .Forgiveness The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila - Audio Mp3 Audio 3Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I believe in the power of Jesus to forgive? Seek—Acknowledge your sinfulness before God. Make a daily examination of conscience. In whom are you placing your trust, in Jesus or yourself? Frequently ask God to help you to sin no more. Knock—Meditate...

The Cross of Christ Restores. . .Life The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila - Audio Mp3 Audio 3Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—What still binds me? Seek—See the restorative power of the cross to see all things made new by the death of Jesus—spend some time allowing your past failings, relationships, and the deaths of loved ones to come forward, and present them to the Lord. Knock—Med...

The Cross of Christ Illumines. . .The Way to True Unity The-CrossSteps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Am I focused on unity or division within the body of Christ? Seek—Give thanks to God ahead of time in your prayers. Think of how Jesus instituted the Eucharist (i.e., “thanksgiving”) on the night before he died. When you are at Mass, consciously give thanks to God through Jesus for all that God...

The Cross of Christ Illumines. . .The Truth The-CrossSteps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—From whom did I learn what I know about Jesus now? Seek—Read the Gospels daily to come to a deeper understanding of Jesus. Always begin your reading with a prayer asking God to enlighten you in your endeavor. Knock—Meditate on Acts 16:30–31. “Men, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the...

The Cross of Christ Illumines. . .Our Choices The-CrossSteps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Whom am I trying to please with the actions of my life? Seek—The glory of God in all things, in all of your actions, in all of your interactions with others. Knock—Meditate on 2 Corinthians 4:3–4. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this...

The Cross of Christ Illumines. . .Death The-CrossSteps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Who can save me from death? Seek—Pray for the dead, especially those you have known in life—family, friends, co-workers, and benefactors. When you are at Mass, call to mind those who have died when the priest mentions them in the Eucharistic Prayer. Knock—Meditate on 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14. But we would not ha...

The Cross of Christ Illumines. . .Weakness The-CrossSteps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I embrace my weakness? Seek—God’s help in carrying your weakness daily. Offer up that weakness in the same way that the Lord offered up his suffering on the cross for the salvation of the world. Knock—Meditate on 2 Corinthians 12:8–10. Three times, I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;...

The Cross of Christ Illumines. . .Lag Time The-CrossSteps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I trust that God answers all prayer? Seek—Believe in God even when all appearances suggest that God is not listening to you. Think of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection on the third day. Knock—Meditate on Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen....

The Cross of Christ Illumines. . .Blindness The-CrossSteps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—What would it be like to see everything in God’s light? Seek—Observe the world, expecting to see God at work in it. Put skepticism aside and ask God to enlighten your vision! Knock—Meditate on John 9:39–41. Jesus said, “For Judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those w...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .How We See Ourselves Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—From what do I need Jesus to save me? Seek—God’s forgiveness for your sins. Ask God to transform you into the image of his Son, so that you may be an instrument of God’s grace to others. Knock—Meditate on 1 Corinthians 6:9–11. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do n...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .Our Priorities Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—How does the cross fit into my stance toward God? Seek—Acknowledge God’s priority in your life, over your heart (all of your emotions), over your understanding (all of your thoughts), and over all of your strength (all of your actions). Knock—Meditate on 1 John 4:10–12. In this is love, not that we loved God b...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .Our Lives Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—Do I trust in God? Seek—Frequently call upon the Lord for his help throughout the day. Life was not intended to be a solitary venture; recognize that God is always present, and is there for us when we call upon him. Knock—Meditate on 10:11–13. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” F...

The Cross of Christ Transforms. . .Law and Love Steps to Take as You Follow Christ Ask—How much do I love God? Seek—God’s love for us and his plans for us are greater than our minds can conceive. Starting today, acknowledge these realities by undertaking acts of trust in God throughout the day. Ask God to fill you with his love. Share God’s love with everyone. Knock—Meditate on Romans 13:8–10. Owe...