THE CROSSROAD OF THE CROSS

 Reflection for Friday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

 (Nahum 1:15; 2;2; 3:1-3, 6-7; Mt 16:24-28)

Today, we make a ‘stop over’ at one of the Minor Prophets that are difficult to locate and rarely quoted in the Bible: Nahum. He seems to be neglected such that people rarely name their children after him. With three short chapters, covering only two and half pages, and squeezed between Micah and Habakkuk, you have to flip the pages several times before you can locate Nahum. The name ‘Nahum’ means “The consoled one.” His oracle was basically addressed against the great Assyria, which colonized many kingdoms. The capital of Assyria was Nineveh. It was a selfish City, which fed by plundering other Kingdoms. Prophet Nahum brought a message of restoration and consolation to Israel by proclaiming the destruction of Nineveh, and thus, the end of Assyrian domination.  

In the Gospel, Jesus said to His disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Listening to Jesus, we come to understand that being His disciple is the most responsible act ever, and turning down the invitation is the most irresponsible act too. Refusing to follow Jesus does not ‘save’ one from his cross. To ‘deny himself’ implies that, in approaching his responsibilities or difficult situations, a disciple does not exult his human principles or capabilities over the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, even when his human powers are at work, it is to the glory of Christ. Often times, it is not that the cross we bear is ‘too heavy’ but our ‘selfish’ self is always an obstacle in allowing the grace of our Lord Jesus to lighten our burden. Then stress and frustration surface.  Thus, by ‘losing oneself’ for the sake of Christ, the disciple finds himself in Christ Jesus. That is why Jesus added immediately, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Today, we live so selfishly like the people of Nineveh; consuming ourselves and not sparing others. A life without cross becomes the heaviest cross! How can we be Christians but not disciples? We are always at the ‘crossroad’ of the Cross; the choice to put aside selfishness and take up the enduring side of life has already been made for us by Jesus when He mounted the wood of the Cross. So, when we begin to create ‘new principles’ for running ourselves, relationship, marriage, business, etc, then we have chosen to save ourselves and be lost. But, “What does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?” This was how Nineveh ended in ruins during the time of prophet Nahum.

Therefore, whenever we find ourselves at the crossroads of life, faced with difficult decisions and challenging tasks, the Cross of Christ is our source of inspiration and strength. Do not expect your life to be without cross, but ask for the grace to carry it and follow Jesus. At the feet of Jesus, we surrender all. 

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Friday August 7^th, 2020.
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