Easter Meditation

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Book 2 Chapter 11: On the Small Number of Lovers of the Cross

“Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few cross-bearers.”

It seems a little strange to be talking about the cross now that we are in the season of the resurrection.  However, it is important to never forget the power of the cross; because without the cross, we do not get to the resurrection.  Unfortunately, most of us would like to forget the cross and go straight to the resurrection. If you listen to the message from many of the prosperity preachers, it’s all about the reward and the sacrifice.  These are false prophets who easily turn us away from God for the earthly treasurers.  Unfortunately, we must live with the cross; we must share in his tribulation.  “Many will follow him to the breaking of the bread, but few will drink the bitter cup of His Passion.”  Today’s message is all about being “poor in spirit.” To see if you are poor in spirit, look back on your most recent Lent.  What did you do to prepare for this Easter Season?  Did you honor the fast days?  What did you give up for Lent? Did you increase your prayer life?  What did you do for your fellow many?  And most importantly, why did you do these things? In your reflection, the reality of your sacrifice should become clear.  We all love Jesus when our life is good and praise Him when we feel He has done us great favor (i.e., prosperity preaching); but what do we do when our life is in turmoil or we feel He has abandoned us (i.e., reality)? Do you complain or do you praise Him?  We must learn to be lovers of the cross.  We must learn to find Joy both in the bitter cup of His crucifixion and in the glory of His resurrection.  The celebration of Easter is a foretaste of what heaven will be like if we bear the cross during this life.  After our life on earth, the joy of heaven awaits for those who truly love Christ through the entirety of our Lent.  Our entire life here on earth is a Lent when compared to the heaven that awaits us.  But heaven is only available for those who see the joy in Lent and the happiness that we gain through suffering and bearing the cross.  When we desire a life filed with earthly pleasures, we are filled with “self-interest and self-love.”  We must learn to give up all our earthly treasures and realize that anything we have belongs to God.  If you tithe to the church, is this all you think that God deserves? If you gave everything you owned to the church, you will not have given enough.  God owns 100 percent of everything you have, because without God, you have nothing.  Therefore, you own nothing but what is in your soul. What is in your soul, will decide where you spend eternity.  Everything you do must be for the love of God.  Thomas a Kempis says, “And then when we have done all things that we know we ought to do, let us think that we have done nothing.” We must always remain in service for the Lord.  We must always be willing to carry the cross with joyful enthusiasm.

A Simple Prayer

Father in heaven who I love above all things;

Help me to see your will so I can do all you order me to do.

It is only when I completely surrender to your will that I will be poor in spirit.

It is then when I can say that “I am alone and afflicted” (Psalms 25:16)

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon