From The Bishop

In the passage from the Gospel of St. Luke for the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Jesus states, “If anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.â€� For Jesus, the cross and discipleship are inseparable. As our great nation continues to debate the issue of doctor-assisted suicide and euthanasia, one aspect that is so often overlooked is the mystery of the cross. Suffering is the result of sin so it cannot be considered something good; however, good can come from suffering. This is what Jesus has taught us by his example. He suffered and died for us so that we might be saved. His suffering had a purpose â€" salvation. One of the greatest sources of discouragement is a sense of helplessness. When someone is seriously ill independence is lost and one can feel helpless. This can also lead to a sense of uselessness. This is part of the pain and suffering of illness. If we follow Jesus then we can give this suffering some kind of meaning. I believe that even in my helplessness I am able to do something when I am united to the sufferings of Christ. Through our suffering we participate in the sacrifice of Christ which brings about our salvation and the salvation of others. In Christ my suffering is no longer meaningless when I carry my cross with Him. We should always do all in our power to alleviate the sufferings of others; however, when we do have to suffer we do not give up. With faith we turn something that is bad to good; we deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.