How do
any of us, come to understand the cross as, of all things, an opportunity? How
do we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who, for the sake of
the joy that lay before him, embraced the cross out of love, heedless of its
shame? Can we
imagine truly embracing the cross, embracing our own crosses?
Saint Ignatius of Antioch had his gaze so fixed on Christ Jesus that he begged his friends not to keep him from the wild beasts who would eat him up in the Roman arena. “I will gladly die for God, if only you do not stand in my way,” he said. “I
offer my life's breath for the sake of the cross…let me imitate my suffering
God...I am God's wheat and I shall be ground by the teeth of beasts, that I may
become the pure bread of Christ.” Perhaps we are humbled by such ardor, but such passion is meant to be ours as well.
Photography by Brother Brian.
Photography by Brother Brian.
