“Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.” St. Rose of Lima 

Is it a wonder that Jesus made taking up our cross daily an essential for the journey to glory? It was the instrument he used for our salvation. How often we try to run away from the cross in our path! But in doing so, we encounter road block after road block. We are to take up our cross as a yoke Christ asks us to bear with him. The cross of itself is never easy. But the cross shared with Jesus becomes bearable. For many the cross is a stumbling block. But for the disciple of Jesus, the cross is the sure path to union with Jesus now and in eternity. Jesus embraced the cross for us and asks us to embrace the cross for and with him.