Crosswalking

SOMETHING BELIEVERS SOMETIMES COMMIT TO DO

Yesterday, I was invited to begin a discussion on the website I had to join in order to comment about another blog. It’s called Disqus.com, have you heard of it? So, anyway, I quickly rethought my original comment, which, honestly, was not that good. But since it was a newly posted article that featured the photo of the newly launched US Navy Destroyer Ship and video, my opinion about it, as a classified government issue, and, well, I guess I helped stimulate some activity.

Here is the crosswalk I found to post with disqus.com. Located in Hawaii in two locations, someone thought a crosswalk modification might create some interest. But for only eight short paint stripes, the ‘ALOHA’ crosswalk cost their community $4,000 to fix. (kron2.com)

The reason that ‘crosswalks’ came up, was how during our errand-running, we drove through a newly popular business section of our city [Providence] that has had some crosswalks newly installed which we drove over making bumpity-bumpity sounds and made an impression in my conscience. And the theme of my Disqus.com post was appropriate.

ANOTHER IMAGE OF CROSSWALKING

from Christianitymalaysia.com

MALAYSIA’S MOST COMPREHENSIVE CHRISTIAN

“Christian suffering has to do with the cross you and I take and heave on our backs. As John White states,

“It is a suffering because of a deliberate choice. The kind of cross to which Christ refers in Luke 9:23 is not a cross of rheumatism or of the petty annoyances in life. It is the badge of a true follower of Jesus. It may take any form, sickness, loneliness, persecution or even death.”

 (John White, Magnificent Obsession, rev. ed (Downers Grove, Ill:Inter Varsity Press, 1990), 75.

I cannot actually find an example of “deliberate choice suffering” just mentioned . . . except possibly one. When St. Paul told of his thorn in the flesh, which he wanted to be healed of, and asked three times for relief. You remember that. (2 Cor. 12:7-9) God told him, no. “No, my grace is sufficient for you, your strength is made perfect in weakness.” . . . Which helps my faith to understand, somewhat.

So I have had to go deeper. (Even while the Presidential debates are broadcasting, listen to this!)

OUR PARTICIPATION IN CHRIST’S SACRIFICE

“The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the one mediator between God and man. (1Tim.2:5) But because of his incarnate divine person, he has in some way united himself to every man, ‘the possibility of being made partners in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery.’ is offered to all men ” (GS 22 5 cf 2: ref. to Gaudium et spec > [Second Vatican Council paragraph])

“He called his disciples to take up their cross and follow him.” (Mt.16:24)

“For Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example so that we should follow in his steps.” (1 Pe.2:21) 

In fact, Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice, those who were to be his first beneficiaries. (Mk. 10:39; Jn. 21:15-19; Col.1:24)

“This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.” (Lk. 2:35). 

[“Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.” – St. Rose of Lima, vita mirabilis (“A Wonderful Life”), Louvain 1668]

CARRYING THE CROSS – OIL ON CANVAS

The Crucifixion by Fra Angelico (Guido di Pietro) Metropolitan Museum of Art

JESUS ACTUALLY DIED NAILED TO A ROMAN CROSS

Listening to a sermon or homily taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells that Jesus died by crucifiction. And his cross-carrying walk happened after a beating that exceeded the maximum stripes. Can we even imagine the severity of pain his skin cried out to him? Then add the pain of muscles lifting to exhaustion!

But, being the Son of God he was, he had to know the depths of suffering he was still willing and able to endure — if only to please his Father in heaven. After all, he had only one life to give, but only his singular, sinless life could pay the huge price needed to redeem all mankind from original sin. [This plan could only be devised by Father and Son.]

ALL MANKIND IS REDEEMED FROM THE ORIGINAL SIN INHERITED FROM ADAM AND EVE 

The wonderful news of this truth is glorious! And history confirms it. But if someone hears and believes this, he still must come into the Church to receive the effected cleansing. The sacrement of baptism is what cleanses a soul from original sin. Did you know this? Hope of being saved is here. Joining the Body of Christ bears entrance to holiness.

The point of crosswalking is simple. Look both ways, up and down, before you decide to cross the street to enter the church. Everyone needs faith to do this, but not understanding the eternal benefits, that are true, and for everyone, might just keep some from desiring to enter. The enemy is smarter than we think, HE can close someone’s mind here.

I learned something about the crucifixion today. I was requested to drive Miss Daisy to a craft store across county lines while the clouds darkened and a wonderful series of cooling showers came all around us. At the store, I walked right to the book display. And there was a new book that caught my eye. The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn. I asked to have it.

“How much?” She asked. 

“Twenty dollars.” I said, having looked at the back jacket. 

Then she turned to the front cover, after admitting “we’ll just have to get it then.” 

And then, we both looked at the discount price, which was fifty percent. (That to my mind is a gift of grace!) 

Now let me share what I found what Rabbi Jonathan Cahn said in his book about the crucifixion:

“If the death of the Messiah was ordained by God, an event of the highest holiness, why did it happen through such unholy means?” I asked the teacher. (page 77, The Priests of the Offering)

“The key people who delivered Messiah to his death were the high priests, Sanhedrin, sons of Aaron. They were the regular officials who made offerings of sacrifices, while Yeshua (Jesus) was the Lamb of God, as prophecy tells us. So they killed him because they were anointed to kill God’s Lamb, and he was anointed to die by their authority.”

“So they killed him because they were priests, and he was the sacrifice?” I asked.

“Not because they knew what they were doing, but nevertheless, because they were the ones ordained to do so.” Teacher said.

“But they were evil,” I said, “And their motives and actions were corrupt.”

“And yet through their actions came deliverance,” his teacher said. “The world is filled with evil, with the imperfect and the wrong. But causes all these things, the wrong, the imperfect, and the evil, to work together for the good, the holy, and the perfect. . .in this world and in your life. . .

“The tears, the crises, the heartbreaks, the evil, and all the wrong, will in the end, become the priests of the offering, to fulfill the sacred purposes and blessings God has ordained for your life.” (The Good Friday Sacrifice Mysteries, Charismahouse.com, Lake Mary, Florida, 2016. Used under fair-use provision of the US Copyright laws as permitted.)

IS THERE ANYTHING OR ANYONE IN THIS WORLD WORKING FOR EVIL?

Such revelation of the mystery of how and why our Savior willingly carried his cross to die is understanding my faith can benefit for having. I can even apply this to our national Presidential election even two to three weeks away. The enemy gets me down to think horrible thoughts about a humanist-liberal, atheist woman, cousin Hillary, becoming President.

Having some more understanding about Jesus Christ’s work on the cross that he gloriously finished for us, it seems to me we can find comfort that he humbly knew what he was doing, and by God’s grace he did it! And by God’s grace we receive it! Satan has someplace in our homes, our schools, and our courts. We recommit to carrying the cross he gives us to carry.

My cross is now praying to learn more comforting, mystery-revelations to share with your suffering hearts. 

Charles Bundschu

@wordlifejournal