“If anyone wants to possess Christ, never let him seek him without the cross.” — Saint John of the Cross
This quote is such a good reminder for us in Lent.
Think back a couple months ago to Christmas. Christmas is a joyful season. It’s so idealized in a sense—even the harsh reality of being born in a stable, we sometimes forget, because Christmas decorations make it look so nice and cozy.
Lent? There’s no question about it. Lent is pursuing Christ with the cross. It’s a reminder of where this is going. And where we are asked to follow.
Jesus didn’t come just to be born in a manger. He came to die on a cross.
And if we want to follow Him—really follow Him—we can’t skip over that part.
We can’t have Easter without Good Friday. We can’t have resurrection without death. We can’t have Christ without the cross.
Just like we say “Keep Christ in Christmas,” we need to keep the cross in Lent.
Don’t let your Lenten practices be just self-improvement. Don’t let your fasting be just a diet. Don’t let your prayers be just habit.
Let them be what they’re meant to be: following Christ to the cross.
That’s where He’s going. And if we want to possess Christ, that’s where we have to follow.
Let us pray.
Lord, help us follow You to the cross. Not because we love suffering, but because we love You. Teach us that the cross isn’t something to avoid but something to embrace—because that’s where You went, and that’s where we must follow. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us.
