Exaltation of the Holy Cross
I remember a story I heard a long time ago. There was once a man who had accepted his cross but thought it was too big for him. He kept stumbling and committing the same sins over and over again. He wanted to lead a better life. He really wanted to be a saint. But he knew with the cross he had been given he would never make it.
So, the man decided to talk to God about his cross being too big. God listened to his story. God said my son, your cross was made just for you. I am sure it is the right size.
Oh, no, said the man. I will never become a saint with such a heavy cross. You must give me a smaller cross. Even God knew better he told the man to pick up his cross and take it to the room where all crosses are stored.
The man opened the door and looked inside. He was amazed at the number of crosses he saw. He carefully set his cross just inside the door and decided to evaluate the crosses he saw in front of him. To his amazement some were enormous. He thought the poor soul that gets that would never be able to carry that.
Some crosses were made with very thick wood, were long and tall. The man tried to pick up various crosses but for some reason he could not lift them up off the floor. Finally, he made it back to door where he entered. He saw a cross that looked appropriate for him. To his amazement he could pick it up. Then he realized this was the cross he brought in with him.
God gave you the cross he knows you can carry because His Son is there to help you carry it. Your cross is not too heavy or too big unless you turn away from God. Rather than think about how big or heavy or cross is why don’t we think about how we can use our cross to ease the burden for others?
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen