La Croix

Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24).

Jesus' cross represents the heavy burden of our sins, all the suffering endured to the point of death in order to give us life.

It is a witness to the life we have in Jesus Christ. It reassures us again and again that Christ died for our redemption, that we have nothing more to fear. It's His cross, His work.

But if this is the path to follow, then Jesus recommends that each of us exercise our Christ-like work with our fellow human beings, so that they may live. Jesus suffered to give us life. Far from asking us to die for others, he did it himself for all mankind, but if we must suffer and die, let it be for Christ.

Dying for Christ is gain for us. To die for Christ is to humbly carry out his missionary work, for he has sent us to make disciples of all nations, each according to the gift he has received from God. Our share of suffering lies in this.

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).

Pasteur Clémentine