Feb 23 Fri
Even in time of persecution let the Cross be your joy
The Catholic Church glories in every deed of Christ. Her supreme glory, however, is the cross. Well aware of this, Paul says: God forbid that I glory in anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!
For us all, the cross is the crown of victory. It has brought light to those blinded by ignorance. It has released those enslaved by sin. It has redeemed the whole of mankind!
Do not, then, be ashamed of the cross of Christ; rather, glory in it. Although it is a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles, the message of the cross is our salvation. Of course, it is folly to those who are in the road of damnation, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it was not a mere man who died for us, but the Son of God, God made man.
In the law of Moses, a sacrificial lamb destroyed the devil. But now it is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Will he not free us from our sins even more? The blood of an animal, a sheep, brought salvation. Will not the blood of the only-begotten Son bring us greater salvation?
He was not killed by violence; he was not forced to give up his life: his was a willing sacrifice. Listen to his own words: I have the power to lay down my life and take it up again. Yes, he willingly submitted to his own passion. He rejoiced in his accomplishment; in his crown of victory, he was glad, and in the salvation of man he rejoiced. He did not reject the cross, for by it he was to save the world. No, it was not a lowly man who suffered, but God incarnate. He entered the contest for the reward he would win by his patient suffering.
Thus, in times of tranquility the cross should give you joy. But maintain the same faith in times of persecution. Otherwise, you will be a friend of Jesus in times of peace, and his enemy during war. Now you receive the forgiveness of your sins, and the generous gift of grace from your king. When war comes, fight courageously for him.
Jesus never sinned; yet he was crucified for you. Will you refuse to be crucified for him, who for your sake was nailed to the cross? You are not the one who gives the favor; you have received one first. For your sake he was crucified on Golgotha. Now you are returning his favor: you are fulfilling your debt to him.
From the Instruction for the Catechumens by St Cyril of Jerusalem
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