I remember fondly a quote from The Way by Saint Jose Maria Escriva (277), in which the response to the question why “that cross” instead of a crucifix:
“You ask me: why that wooden Cross? — And I copy from a letter: ‘As I look up from the microscope, my sight comes to rest on the cross — black and empty. That Cross without [the Corpus] is a symbol. It has a meaning which others cannot see. And though I am tired out and on the point of abandoning the job, I once again bring my eyes to the lens and continue: for the lonely Cross is calling for a pair of shoulders to bear it.'”
I often imagine this conversation being paraphrased like this: “When I grow tired and weary, ready to give in and quit; that’s when I look up at that empty cross on my wall. You see, it’s not Jesus Cross, He already has His, this one is mine. So I pick it up and step in line behind the Master, one step at a time, and get back to work.” I believe that’s the pattern we see today in the readings, which speak so eloquently of the need for us to persevere. Not just in our physical work lives, but also in our spiritual lives.
You never know when you are someone’s Moses standing on the brow of a hill. They are fighting for their lives in the trenches of the world and just need a sign from God that He is still there. In those times of desolation, those times when we can’t feel God’s presence, that’s when looking up and only seeing the cross can seem bleak and discouraging. I think sometimes that’s why God sends holy men and women into our lives. That they too can appear like Moses overlooking the battlefield, who with a simple gesture of lifting his hands reminded the battle-weary men that God was on their side. Will you today stand as a Saint on the brow of the hill of life to remind others to keep struggling?
Or maybe, like Paul, you need to be the one giving a word of encouragement to the young Chrisitan who is just starting his walk. Paul reminded young Timothy that it was important to keep his feet planted in the tradition of the Church. He went out of his way to speak of Timothy’s gifts, his knowledge, and skills. Paul kept Timothy’s dignity intact, while also reminding him how hard it was going to be. Our job as Christians is to continue to encourage one another, to help those who are younger in the faith to recognize their talents and gifts, and put them to use for the Kingdom of God.
All of us too are called to be prayer warriors who lift each other up in prayer. The Gospel tells us to call out day and night for the petitions of our own hearts, and surely for the petitions of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus says to “pray always without becoming weary.” That doesn’t mean you won’t become fatigued or discouraged in this world. It doesn’t mean the battle won’t be long and arduous, sometimes so long that those rooting for you on the sidelines are struggling to keep their hands up. It means don’t give up hope! God will send Saints, just as he sent Aaron and Hur, to help bear the load. He will send messages through others as He did through Paul to Timothy, to encourage and support you during your time of need. He will send a persistent prayer warrior to call out your petitions without giving up, storming Heaven with love for you, with a heart for your hopes and dreams.
The thing is: He is also sending you to stand in for those people. While we have a great cloud of witnesses that surround us in the Communion of Saints, men, and women who have gone on before us to set great examples of what it means to be a disciple of Christ and an untold army of angels, all lifting our prayers up to Heaven; we are also called to become Saints ourselves. We are called to be that person on the Hill lifting up the staff to turn the tide of battle. We are called to come help those other Saints who are struggling to keep their hands held high throughout this life of brawling and sparring. We are called to lift our eyes up from the job that God has set before us, to continually choose to pick up our own cross and follow Him.
Are you ready to stand in the gap with Jesus, to suffer with Him that others might look to you for an example? That’s what it means to be a disciple, that is the true pathway to becoming a Saint.
A reflection on the readings for October 20th, 2019: The 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.