This idea of taking up our cross and following Jesus is a central theme in Christianity. It invites a deep contemplation on the Christian understanding of sacrifice, suffering, and love. The cross was used as a tool for death and punishment in the times of Jesus, but through His crucifixion and Resurrection, the cross became a tool for salvation and the most important sign of sacrifice. The cross represents the ultimate act of self-giving love through Jesus’ crucifixion, where He bore the weight of human sin and pain for the sake of redemption.
To live the cross of Jesus means more than just acknowledging this historical and theological event; it calls believers to embody its spirit in their everyday lives. Living the cross involves a willingness to carry our own crosses — personal struggles, trials, or sacrifices — with patience and faith. This echoes Jesus’ call to “deny oneself, take up the cross, and follow Him” (Matthew 16:24). The cross represents the ultimate act of compassion. Living it means adopting a mindset of love and selflessness, especially toward those who are suffering. This includes acts of charity, mercy, and forgiveness toward others, mirroring Christ’s example.
The cross is a paradox of suffering and victory. It is a reminder that pain and hardship are not the end of the story but rather, for Christians, the path to resurrection and new life. Living the cross means holding onto hope and trusting that God can bring good out of suffering. And finally, the cross signifies transformation, both in the sense of personal conversion and the renewal of the world. To live the cross means continually allowing oneself to be transformed by God’s grace, growing in holiness, and being instruments of transformation in the world.
Ultimately, living the cross of Jesus challenges individuals to walk a path of love, humility, and service, trusting in God’s promise of redemption and new life. It’s a way of life that calls for deep faith and surrender, aligning one’s heart with the heart of Christ.
Rev. Fr. Movses Shannakian
