Picking up the Cross

Today (September 14th) is the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In today's Living Faith reflection, there is an excerpt from Fr. Gerald O'Collins' book "Experiencing Jesus":

In Freedom I must decide to take up my cross and follow in the Lord's footsteps - along that way where there is no ecstasy. Anyone's cross is hard and difficult to take not only unexpected and seemingly random sufferings but also (and perhaps especially?) the distress which comes from what we are ourselves and what we have done. We can resist this for years in a kind of silent revolt. The crucified Jesus shows us that unless we say yes to these sufferings, they will have no real meaning. When we face and accept them with Jesus, they can mysteriously become the means of growth and vitality for ourselves and others . . .

The choice was and remains between suffering in misery or accepting with Christ the mystery of the cross that will come out way. The outcome of such acceptance will always be a transforming resurrection.