...and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life

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16 September 2011
Feast of St. Cornelius and Cyprian, martyrs

Tuesday I finally registered with the university where I will study theology, the Pontifical Gregorian University.  Though classes start only a month from now, registration is on time.  I don’t know exactly how this works considering that it is unheard of for someone to apply to a private university only a month before classes start. Maybe the seminary reserves us a spot at the university ahead of time and since the seminary has a good relationship with the university (meaning they are the largest single source of enrollment) the school works it out.

The university Kevin and I will be attending come Oct. 10th

Anyways, this week the universal Church celebrated the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Our Lady of Sorrows and, today, the feast of the martyrs Saints Cornelius and Cyprian.  These three back to back feasts are pretty awesome.

The cross is certainly the reoccurring theme.  But what is up with the cross?  Why do (should) Christians love the cross so much?

Well, for us Christians the cross truly is the crux of our lives.  It is where Jesus paid the infinite price for our redemption by His passion and death.  It is where Christ consummated His total gift of self.  It is from where He flooded the earth with the water and blood of His cleansing and sanctifying mercy.  And yet these are only simple terms to speak of the great mystery of God’s love which is beyond human words.

So what does this really mean for us practically?  Well, the truth is I couldn’t tell you, because I don’t know.  It is a gift that we’ve received that’s too big for us to exhaust everything it has to offer. 

That said, one principal key to this mystery is abandonment.  Jesus began his passion by abandoning Himself to the Father’s will; "not my will but yours be done" (Lk 22.42). This is what the cross means to me on a practical level: surrendering to God’s will, therefore freely and joyfully accepting everything, including all suffering and all difficulty.

Everyday, I need to choose to give myself totally to God.  I try to make the conscious effort to surrender my heart to His will, trusting even when His will is unclear or when He silent.  Yet, I would be lying if I said I don’t fall short of this goal everyday.  This is because no person can accomplish true surrender if he holds on to pride or despair.  That’s really easier said than done, since these sins sneak into our lives in quiet ways that are often hard to detect.

At Jesus’ side, Mary abandoned herself to God’s will, accepting the suffering of her son as the will of the Father.  Likewise, Ss. Cornelius and Cyprian abandoned themselves even in suffering, knowing that they were suffering with Christ and that their abandonment to God would gain them eternal life. 

Outdoor entrance to our main chapel consecrated to the Mary's Immaculate Conception

We must not be afraid to give Him our whole selves in following His will (in other words, our calling or vocation).  He is always with us.  He is our refuge.  He is our strength.  He is the God that takes delight in us.

A well known prayer of abandonment