The How and Why to Follow Jesus Christ
Matthew 11:25, At that time Jesus exclaimed: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
If I were to read between the lines of the above passage, I would imagine something like this.
Jesus: "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth and I ask, 'Why do our believers think they know more than us? Have You hidden the true meaning of Your plan from the intellects while revealing the Truth to the childlike... the innocent?'"
God: "My Son, whom I love, I have not hidden anything from them. They are the ones who have rejected my Word in favor of self-indulgence. Their lenience of sinful ways, in favor of material and psychological idols and attachments, have jaded their souls... while the child-like have discerned My Truth and live their lives accordingly."
On July 18, 2023, I published a post “Kempis on: Few Love the Cross of Jesus”. I now follow up the action of taking up one’s cross, in that post, to what the reality of the royal road is.
Kempis:
To many the saying, "Deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow Me," seems hard, but it will be much harder to hear that final word: "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire." Those who hear the word of the cross and follow it willingly now, need not fear that they will hear of eternal damnation on the day of judgment. This sign of the cross will be in the heavens when the Lord comes to judge. Why, then, do you fear to take up the cross when through it you can win a kingdom?
In the cross is salvation,
in the cross is life,
in the cross is protection from enemies,
in the cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness,
in the cross is strength of mind,
in the cross is joy of spirit,
in the cross is highest virtue,
in the cross is perfect holiness.
There is no salvation of soul nor hope of everlasting life but in the cross.
Take up your cross, therefore, and follow Jesus, and you shall enter eternal life. If you die with Him, you shall also live with Him, and if you share His suffering, you shall also share His glory. (my emphasis)
You will find that some suffering must always be borne, willingly or unwillingly, and thus you will always find the cross. Either you will experience bodily pain or you will undergo tribulation of spirit in your soul. You will often grow weary of yourself.
Submit yourself wholly to Him that you may become more humble through suffering. No one understands the passion of Christ so thoroughly or heartily as the man whose lot it is to suffer the like himself. Everywhere you must have patience if you would have peace within and merit an eternal crown. Do you expect to escape what no mortal man can ever avoid? Which of the saints was without a cross or trial on this earth? The whole life of Christ was a cross and a martyrdom, and do you seek rest and enjoyment for yourself?
You are mistaken if you seek anything but to suffer, for this mortal life is full of miseries and marked with crosses on all sides. He knows that great reward is coming to him for bearing His cross. When he carries it willingly, every pang of tribulation is changed into hope of solace from God. Besides, the more the flesh is distressed by affliction, so much the more is the spirit strengthened by inward grace.
To carry the cross, to love the cross, to chastise the body and bring it to subjection, to flee honors, to endure contempt gladly, to despise self and wish to be despised, to suffer any adversity and loss, to desire no prosperous days on earth--this is not man's way. But if you trust in the Lord, strength will be given you from heaven and the world and the flesh will be made subject to your word. You will not even fear your enemy, the devil, if you are armed with faith and signed with the cross of Christ. (my emphasis)
I’ve spoken about the Vatican and Mother church leadership, now about us. The SINod of Synidality may very well undermine the Deposit of Faith and the teachings of Holy Mother Church that have stood for 1,990 years. You and I must stand fast on the side of Christ. In fact, we are commanded as such.
Set yourself, then, like a good and faithful servant of Christ, to bear bravely the cross of your Lord, Who out of love was crucified for you. Drink the chalice of the Lord with affection if you wish to be His friend and to have part with Him. Be ready to bear sufferings and consider them the greatest consolation. When you shall have come to the point where suffering is sweet and acceptable for the sake of Christ, then consider yourself fortunate, for you have found paradise on earth. If you put your mind to the things you ought to consider, that is, to suffering and death, you would soon be in a better state and would find peace. Realize that you must lead a dying life; the more a man dies to himself, the more he begins to live unto God. No man is fit to enjoy heaven unless he has resigned himself to suffer hardship for Christ. You ought to wish rather to suffer for Christ than to enjoy many consolations, for thus you would be more like Christ and more like all the saints. (my emphasis)
Pray that the Spirt of God prevails in this upcoming synod. Whatever our troubles are, offer them up!
God Bless you