22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

To the world, the cross may signify “curse” or “death,” but to us, the cross signifies “forgiveness,” “pride,” “salvation,” and reconciliation with God.

“We must gaze upon Christ crucified with faith, hope, love, and longing.” “When we gaze upon the cross, we realize how much Jesus loves us,” said St. Bonaventure.

Jesus’ suffering is the greatest sign of God’s love for humanity. The cross is proof that God truly loves humanity; it is a sign that God revealed Himself in Jesus and was willing to sacrifice everything out of love for humanity.

In our daily lives today, what does it mean, specifically, to “carry the cross”?

Amid a modern culture that prioritizes comfort, the cross reminds us of Christian values. The cross is at the heart of the Christian faith. It carries a profound message about God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, and victory over sin.

Now, let’s consider how we should view the relationship between the cross and our daily lives. I’d like to highlight three points. First is the cross amidst life’s challenges. Everyone has their own “cross” to bear—whether it’s family problems, work-related worries, health issues, or relationship struggles; everyone’s situation is different. However, through faith, we learn not to flee from the cross but to carry it together with Christ. A cross carried together with Him will feel lighter.

Amid life’s sufferings and difficulties, the cross serves as a constant reminder of hope. Like a light in the darkness, the cross offers comfort and the promise of eternal life. Reflecting on this prompts us to reexamine ourselves and question the meaning of our lives and our actions.

Second, the cross is the path to spiritual maturity. Bearing the cross does not mean that life will become “more difficult” or that we will “torment ourselves”; rather, it means that our lives will become more purposeful. We learn to entrust ourselves to God, we learn patience, and we become more spiritually mature individuals. Spiritual maturity is not determined by age, but by our resolve not to reject the cross in our lives.

Third, the cross and solidarity. Jesus did not take up the cross for himself, but for us. Therefore, when we carry the cross of our own lives, we are called to show concern for others who are likewise carrying their own crosses. This is the social mission of the Catholic Church: to stand by those who are suffering. It is enough simply to be there, even if we do nothing else. It means being present and sensing that the other person is carrying a very heavy burden. Solidarity is the strength that keeps us standing firm even when a storm comes. When one heart is wounded, all hearts feel it. That is the true meaning of solidarity. When we are together, we become stronger than we would be alone.

We may sometimes think of the cross as a burden, but in the Catholic faith, the cross is a path. It is the path to eternal life, and the path to becoming stronger, more loving people. Comfort is like a paved road. It’s easy to walk on, but no flowers bloom there. The cross is like a thorny path. It’s difficult to traverse, but along the way, we can find flowers blooming.

Which path will we choose here? As we set out on this week’s journey, let’s reflect on this question: “Will it be the paved road without flowers, or the thorny path full of flowers?”