“‘Faith enables us to bear the thorns with which our life is woven.’ These words of Pier Giorgio’s are from a note dated “Turin: 3.5.1925 to Clementina Luotto, whose mother was ill."” (A Man of the Beatitudes, 133).
The Christian path is scattered with roses and the sweet fragrance they emit envelopes us as we journey towards the resurrection and eternal life (especially if you are friends with St. Therese). That being said, the Lord of Hosts, who came as a babe in the manger, was crowned with a crown of thorns – a piercing reality which punctured skin and drew blood.
We all face difficult moments in life. We all bear crosses which feel (operative word) at times as though they carry with them a crushing weight. I’m not making light of this reality as it can both feel overwhelming and literally bring us, like Jesus, to our knees when we fall under the weight of the cross which we carry. Blessed John Paul II recognized that for Pier Giorgio “The secret of his apostolic zeal and holiness is to be sought in the ascetical spiritual journey which he traveled…[and] in [his] peaceful acceptance of life’s difficulties.” (A Man of the Beatitudes, 157).
As I was walking to Mass this morning I was inquiring what is the etymology of the word acceptance? I took Latin for six years. Sometimes I have these thoughts. Anyway, acceptance is derived from acceptare, which means to receive. Acceptance is authentically proclaiming thy will be done and receiving the answer with unshakeable faith and gratitude. It is a vision that it is the cross which leads to the resurrection. Acceptance is recognizing the beautiful union of joy and suffering. These are not divorced realities. Just as a rose intrinsically has both a flower and thorns in order to be a rose, so as Christians we see the unity of death and eternal life, suffering and joy, for to accept the crown of thorns is to accept the crown of life.
Each cross is fashioned individually for each of us to more intimately know God’s sacrificial and enduring love. Let us joyfully accept the crosses God gives us for they are fashioned individually to ourselves so that we may know everlasting joy, eternal hope, and redeeming love.
Verso l'alto,
Kathryn
“Don’t be afraid of the thorns.”
Let Him be the Author of Salvation
“Everyday’s another chance to start to look around and see where we are is where we were trying to get to.”
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