God lives and works today, but is he
real for each one of us in every
situation?
Is he real for those among us who
must bear a heavy burden or a cross?
For those whose lives are marked by grief
or suffering?
Listen to today's meditation by Basilia Schlenk called
The Mystery of the Cross.
There's a wonderful secret about the cross.
It's as if there were a veil around
the cross which few people ever remove.
It's as if the cross had two faces.
To some people, it looks gray and black.
It speaks of suffering, judgment, and death.
But to others, it seems to gleam like
gold.
The mystery of the cross and its two
faces has to do with our Lord Jesus,
he who died on the cross.
Only when we comprehend that Jesus is love,
only love, can we comprehend the mystery of
the cross.
Jesus could have remained with the Father in
heaven in eternal joy, but he became the
Son of Man.
He gave up his power and glory and
took the cross upon his shoulders.
For us, too, the cross means suffering.
It means literally being crossed out.
Our wishes and our will may be crossed
out.
Or our health or happiness may be crossed
out.
With God, however, as we see by Jesus'
life, there is no cross, no disappointment that
is not followed by a resurrection.
If we take the same attitude towards our
cross that Jesus took towards his, that is,
if we say, then God will use our
cross to give us something much greater and
more beautiful than we could ever imagine.
Let us tell our Lord Jesus, Jesus has
many bystanders, but he has only a few
friends who join with him to penetrate the
mystery of the cross, few disciples who praise
God for their cross.
Jesus is longing for such followers.
With them he can build his kingdom, for
fruit comes from carrying the cross.
Jesus can make his cross-bearers truly happy,
for the cross is the key that opens
heaven.
Let us commit ourselves to Jesus to become
his cross-bearers.
On this pathway we will find unimaginable joy,
fruit, and glory.
And Jesus promises to repay his true cross
-bearers a hundred times over.
Yes, to them he gives overflowing divine life
for now and for all eternity.
You have been listening to a program written
by Basileus Schlink of the Little Land of
Canaan.
To learn more about how God lives and
works today, visit us at our website, www
.canaan.org.
If you contact us, we would be happy
to send you a free inspirational booklet.
If you do not have access to the
web, please contact this radio station for our
postal address.
God bless you!