Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, Lord, God of truth …
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your mercy. (Psalm 31:6, 17)
September 16, 2025
Hello Everyone –
In “The Imitation of Christ,” Thomas à Kempis writes: “In the cross there is salvation; in the cross there is life; in the cross there is protection from our enemies and a pouring forth of a heavenly sweetness.”
That must be the reason why we exalt the cross. Otherwise, to the naked eye, it does not make any sense. Sometimes, even through the eyes of faith, it can be difficult to comprehend.
Jesus makes it clear throughout his earthly ministry that he does not want us to be just one of the crowd. Jesus desires a personal covenant with us. Quite often that covenant matures through the cross. That being the case, what does it look like for you — the cross, that is? What shape has it taken in your own life?
It may have begun with a phone call in the middle of the night — a child has been in an accident — maybe a parent has suddenly taken ill. Or it may take the form of a lesson plan you struggle to lead your students through or a lesson from life — kids who are more interested in video games than subject/verb agreement — algebraic equations — or the demands of the Gospel.
Maybe it is trying to keep peace in the family despite a disagreeable relative. Or perhaps you are struggling to keep the project going at work while dealing with a clueless boss or an incompetent team member.
Where is the reality of the cross for you? Where is it truly made tangible??
It can come in the form of ridicule or addiction. It is all too frequently formed by the intersecting beams of despair and abandonment — of exhaustion and anger — of hatred and bigotry. It may be the money you have — or the money you don’t have. It may be the passion you have for a cause — or the compassion you feel for the victims — or perhaps you are the victim yourself.
The cross — those struggles and challenges in life that we cannot avoid — those people and situations we try to sidestep — the hard reality that forces us to delay our hopes and abandon our dreams.
But the cross is not a death sentence — nor is it the instrument of torture that it once was.
In the right hands — the cross can be a means of healing — an instrument of transformation — a vehicle for resurrection. It begins by realizing that another set of hands carried the cross first — that another shoulder helps us to bear the load even now.
To follow Jesus of Nazareth requires us to take up the cross, whatever its form. That is unmistakable. It is not possible to sugarcoat it or make it something it is not. And we never know precisely when or how the cross will fall to us — deep darkness of mind or heart — aching and persistent loneliness — foreclosure of a future — immeasurable loss — diminishment — breakdowns in society — the burden of speaking the truth.
But when the cross presents itself — we are called upon to pick it up and follow after the Nazorean. And as we walk — the wide road often leads to a narrow way — ruts and obstacles jolt us on the journey. But Jesus is there in the mix — somewhere close to us — but we see him as through a glass dimly — not much is clear.
Not with false piety but with the courage and determination of St. Paul we aspire to walk by faith, not by sight.
As I do for you, please pray for me,
Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee
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