Is This Mine?

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • St. Josaphat Formation Center, Phoenix, AZ

In 1597, when Gonsalo Garcia, a Franciscan lay brother from India, arrived at the place of execution near Nagasaki, Japan along with Paul Miki and the other 25 companions, he went at once to one of the crosses that had been set up for their execution and asked, “Is this mine?” 

Gonsalo’s attitude can help us to draw more fruit from the Way of the Cross during this season of Lent when we consider the second station: “Jesus takes up His Cross”. While three of the Evangelists tell us unanimously that Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry His cross once it became too heavy for Him, it is St. John who specifically recalls for us that Jesus, “carrying the cross himself, went out to what is called The Place of the Skull…” (Jn 19:17) There is a subtle but extremely beneficial observation to make here: Jesus embraced His Cross. Jesus was not a passive victim, and even less a reluctant or helpless participant, in the sorrowful drama of our Redemption. Rather, He embraced it! St. John records Jesus saying, “This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” (Jn 10:17-18)

Since Jesus says, “Take up your cross daily and follow Me.” (Mt, Mk, Lk), it goes much better for us if we, like Jesus, embrace that cross of ours and carry it willingly. It actually makes it easier to bear and is more fruitful for salvation – ours and many more! This is not to say it is easy by any stretch of the imagination, but easier. Any sacrifice or effort we have to make in life is always easier when we embrace it and is always harder when we put it off, resist it, or try to run away from it. A simple example is the motivational blurb I give teens in confession who are bored by Mass and “tortured” by having to go: Embrace it! Participate actively – singing the songs, praying the prayers and responses, listening to what is read and said – and you will find that: 1. the time zooms by; 2. it can inspire you; 3. you can do a lot of good there; and 4. you may actually enjoy it! The same may be true with some of our crosses and penances. Gonsalo, who so willingly embraced his cross, was, in fact, the first one to be killed by the lance while on his cross, being the first to end his ordeal and begin his glory in Heaven the quickest. 

We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have Redeemed the World!