The image above is a painting, “Finding of the True Cross” by Agnolo Gaddi. It came to mind when preparing for this reflection and as a popular expression came to mind: “that’s their cross to bear.” What that means is that the person must accept an unpleasant situation or responsibility because there is no way to avoid dealing with it. What’s more, it’s a situation or responsibility that can’t be shared or passed along to someone else. The idiom is used to refer to an emotional or mental burden that brings with it a marked amount of stress and suffering, and generally does not refer to a physical burden.
Whether the unwelcomed burden is placed upon someone by a situation, a person, a responsibility, fate, or just bad luck – it is no less a burden. There are lots of “crosses” that are ours to bear in this life, but our gospel reminds us: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16:24) If it is true that we have lots of “crosses” to bear, this gospel reminds us that the cross we “take up” from among our many choices, needs to be the “true cross” associated with discipleship in Christ.
I do not think such an idea resonates with modern life or popular culture which seems a bit ego-centered, anchored and fueled – at least in part – by social media. So much of the media message is about the “good life” and self-denial is not part of that message. Sometimes it seems that “service to others for the sake of the other” has morphed into “collecting experiences” and adding to a curriculum vitae, enhancing a brand, or promoting one’s self.
The Christian life called for in the gospel verse is not a reflection of, let alone the baptism and blessing of, the self-help, ego-heavy culture, but it’s indeed its polar opposite. Taking up the true cross of discipleship, is not to be understood as a call to asceticism for its own sake. Just as Jesus’ call to discipleship is not a joining in the cultural infatuation with self-esteem, but then neither is it the opposite. Nor is the self-denial to which Jesus calls the opposite of self-fulfillment. Just giving up things will not make one Christian; it will only make one empty. What is counter-cultural is an orientation of one’s life that is not focused on self at all, either as self-esteem or self-abasement, as self-fulfillment or self-emptying. The focus is on God and the “other” for the sake of the other – for their well-being.
This call to discipleship is based on faith in Christ and confidence in the future victory of God even when it seems the long arc of righteousness is taking its own sweet time getting to that future.
The act of taking up the cross is faith-based. It is not a matter merely of high human ideals or noble principles. It is not based on a reasoned conclusion about how things are, inferred from observation or general principles, but on faith that something has happened that makes everything different.
The foundation of taking up the cross is to believe in Jesus as the Christ and to reorient one’s life toward the good news that God has acted decisively and ultimately in Jesus to restore the truly good life, the best life.
So, yes, we all have burdens, our “crosses to bear,” and we have to deal with them. But underlying our actions and words has to be the “true cross” of discipleship, even when the world looks askance, with dismissive eyes or disapproving glance.
Image credit: Finding of the True Cross, by Agnolo Gaddi (1350-96). Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence, Italy | Public Domain
Folks are in agreement that the popular basis of the idiom comes from the gospel and Jesus’ admonition for the disciple to “take up his cross.” But the idiom is slightly different: “cross to bear.” When one attempts to trace its first use (in English), it first appears in a letter to Catharine of Aragon written by Dutch Renaissance humanist, social critic, and theologian Erasmus. The letter was written after her divorce from Henry VIII in 1533:
It is most rare to find a lady born and reared in courts, who binds her hope on acts of devotion, and finding her solace in the word of God. Would that others, more especially widows, would learn to follow your example; and not widows only, but unmarried ladies too, for what so good as the service of Christ? He is the Rock — the Spouse of pious souls — and nearer than the nearest humanities. A soul devoted to this Husband is at peace alike in good and evil times. He knows what is best for all; and is often kindest when He seems to turn the honey into gall. Everyone has his cross to bear; without that cross no soul can enter into rest!”
Erasmus reminds her that in the midst of all her problems, the “true cross” is the one that brings lasting peace.