The
authentic gospel is the gospel of the
cross. If we are to come after Jesus,
we are to deny ourselves, take up our
cross, and follow him. Jesus has already
shown us the way. When we follow him,
we inevitably encounter the cross. Rather
than evade it, we are called to embrace
it, as Jesus did.
The
Cross Is the Crown of Our Hope, Says Pope
Encourages Growth in Faith Through
Daily Trials
VATICAN CITY, JUNE 20, 2010 (Zenit.org).-
Benedict XVI is pointing to the
Cross as the crown of our hope and the
highest of our goods.
The Pope stated this today in a public
address before praying the midday Angelus
with the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's
Square.
In
the Gospel, the Pontiff recalled, Jesus
"renews to Peter and the other
disciples the invitation to follow him
on the demanding road of love to the
cross."
"To
us too, who can know the Lord through
faith in his Word and in the sacraments,
Jesus makes the proposal to follow him
every day," he said.
As
well, the Holy Father affirmed, Jesus
"reminds us that to be his disciples
it is necessary to appropriate the power
of the cross, the highest of our goods
and the crown of our hope."
He
continued, "Taking up the cross
means committing oneself to defeating
sin, which blocks the way to God, accepting
the Lord's will every day, making faith
grow above all in the face of problems,
difficulties, suffering."
"Even
today," Benedict XVI noted, "there
are many Christians in the world who,
animated by God, assume the cross every
day, whether it be daily trials, whether
it be that procured by human barbarity,
which sometimes requires the courage
of the supreme sacrifice."
He
expressed the prayer that the Lord would
"grant everyone of us always to
place our firm hope in him, certain
that, following him carrying our cross,
we will reach the light of the Resurrection
with him."
---
--- ---
On
ZENIT's Web page:
Full
text:
http://zenit.org/article-29651?l=english
"For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is
gain." (Phil 1:21)