The Way of the Cross is the Way of Life

My father liked to say, “They have a religion to die by, we have a religion to live by.” He was speaking of Christians whose spiritual quest is to get into heaven by accepting Christ as personal Savior. The question is not “Are you saved?” but “Am I walking The Way?” Jesus came to show the Pharisees that true religion is not selfish, and to proclaim and show to all people that love and sacrifice is the Way of Life.

My favorite prayer line is unfortunately tucked obscurely away where no one but the priest ever notices it -- in the liturgy for the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage (BCP p.430):

Most gracious God, we give you thanks for your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life.

That one-liner prayer says everything a Christian needs to know and do: the Way of the Cross is the way of life. A way of love and sacrifice.

Remember that.

TW+

Thanks, RevRay.