The English language is a colorful landscape of idioms, expressions and all manner of this and that. Sometimes it is like exploring the attic in your grandparent’s house. Never know what you’ll find. I have always enjoyed exploring the etymology, that is, the origins of words and expressions. One of our common expressions is used when we see someone who has to accept or is stuck in an unpleasant situation or responsibility because there is no way to avoid dealing with it. We remark “that’s their cross to bear.”

When one attempts to trace its first use (in English), we find ourselves in a particularly turbulent time in history.  The Protestant Reformation is well underway across Germany and Switzerland. Henry VIII is on the throne in England and is divorcing his first wife of 24 years, Catharine of Aragon, daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, in a very public and humiliating way. The year is 1533. During her post-divorce confinement, Catherine received a letter from the very famous Catholic humanist and theologian Erasmus. He offers her encouragement and prayers for her situation. He commends her for searching for and finding solace in the Word of God as she found ways to remain in the service of Christ, devoting her soul to the One who knows what is best for all. He then reminds her “Everyone has his cross to bear.”

I think I have lived long enough and talked to enough people to agree – everyone has a cross to bear. Most of us do not have to carry the burden in the very public and humiliating way that afflicted Catherine of Aragon. There are friends and neighbors among us that have the burden of an aging parent, an increasingly distant spouse, an incorrigible child, an obnoxious co-worker, Interstate 95, a set of PCS orders good for the career, not so much for the family – and this goes on.

The letter to Catherine points out that she wasn’t simply making the best out of a lousy situation, she was doing it “for the sake of Christ.” She said “yes” to Christ in the midst of something not of her will or choosing – not that in confidence it would all turn out OK, but in seeking holiness in the middle of a situation not in her control.

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt 16:24)

Whether the unwelcomed burden is placed upon someone by a situation, a person, a responsibility, fate, or just bad luck – it is still ours to say “Yes.” If there are “crosses” that  are ours to bear in this life, the gospel reminds us that sometimes we make the decision to pick up the cross “for the sake of Christ.”

No matter how the cross got there, willingly or unwillingly, our response to the cross is associated with discipleship in Christ.  Let’s face it – the cross was a sign that the Romans were in charge. Test them and you’d be surprised how quickly they could hoist you up on the instruments of torture, humiliation and death. But Jesus changed that.  His love changed the cross to the instrument of Redemption made in love, the kind of love that lays down one’s life for another.

The questions all disciples face is will our taking up the cross be a witness of burden to the world, or will our response be one which changes the witness to one of love? Are we able to focus on God and the other – for their well-being?

This call to discipleship is based on faith in Christ and confidence in the future victory of God even when it seems the long arc of righteousness is taking its own sweet time getting to that future.

The act of taking up the cross is not a matter merely of high human ideals or noble principles. It is not based on a reasoned conclusion about how things are, inferred from observation or general principles, but on faith that something has happened that makes everything different.

The foundation of taking up the cross is to believe in Jesus as the Christ and to reorient one’s life toward the good news that God has acted decisively and ultimately in Jesus to restore the truly good life, the best life.

So, yes, we all have burdens, our “crosses to bear,” and we have to deal with them. But underlying our actions and words has to be the “true cross” of discipleship, even when the world looks askance, with dismissive eyes or disapproving glance.

Catherine of Aragon took up her cross and gave witness to the royal court and the people of England who loved and admired her.

May that be our witness to the world as we take up our crosses in our own time and place.

Image credit: Finding of the True Cross, by Agnolo Gaddi (1350-96). Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence, Italy | Public Domain