The Daily Cross

(Found here)

CHRIST:

MY CHILD, I had to bear many trials throughout My earthly life. . . . Man’s earthly life is full of miseries and crosses. Wherever you turn, you will find a cross.

2. If you carry it willingly, you will find greater strength in the cross, and it will lead you towards Heaven. If you bear it unwillingly, you only make it a greater burden than it already is; and you still have to bear it. One who runs away from the cross is only running toward another cross, perhaps a heavier one.

3. There is no other road to Heaven except the way of the cross. No man can escape his cross. Even My saints went through their earthly life, burdened by the cross. Not a single hour of My earthly life was free of the cross. I entered into My glory by suffering and dying upon the cross. Do not fear the cross. I shall help you to bear it.

THINK:

As I embrace my daily cross, I shall find Jesus standing on the other side of it, waiting to help me carry it. I shall not have to carry it alone. My daily life is a partnership with Jesus. He walks every step of it with me. As He proved His love for me by embracing His cross, so do I prove my love for Him by embracing my daily trials. True, I may always try to solve my daily problems and remedy my troubles. When, however, my efforts have failed, I should not lose my self-control by impatience, anger, or rebellion against God’s Will. Nor need I seek to avoid all of the trials which come my way. At times I can deliberately allow myself to endure things or people who annoy me, at least a bit longer than I would naturally like. The more I grow in genuine love for Jesus, the less will I fear or resent the cross.

PRAY:

Lord Jesus, my crucified King, let me never fail to recognize Your banner–the cross. You said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Your words are clear. If I love the cross, I am a true follower of Yours. If I refuse it by anger, impatience, fault-finding, criticism of superiors, and unkindness, I am no true follower of Yours. Grant me the light to recognize Your cross when people and events annoy and disturb me. Let me consider the situation, try to remedy it if necessary, but at all times face it with Christlike self-control. Each moment of the day, I wish to be aware of Your nearness. When trials come, I wish to handle them as You did in Your earthly life. In union with You I hope to make this life of mine a daily act of love for You. Amen.

~Anthony Paone (from My Daily Bread: A Summary of the Spiritual Life, Simplified and Arranged for Daily Reading, Reflection and Prayer)