Theme for the season of Pentecost (Autumn/November)

Called to the Cross

We continue our journey with Jesus, who is called to the cross. The ministry of Jesus is one of new life, and with new life comes an actual death. Jesus is called towards the cross. The cross is where God meets us at our very worst, and still brings unimaginable love.

We are baptized into the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. A cross is traced on our foreheads at our baptism. We are forever marked with the cross. We make the sign of the cross in worship. We have a cross traced on our heads every year on Ash Wednesday. As followers of Christ, we are also called to the cross. The cross is where we are confronted with our brokenness and where we experience God’s own heart.

We never have to be afraid of the cross. Because Jesus lived, died and lived again, we never have to be afraid of the many types of deaths we encounter. God is always bringing new life out of death, and the proof is in the cross, the proof is in the empty tomb, the proof is in us. We can take up our cross and follow Jesus, because Jesus has redeemed the cross.

We live as cross-shaped people. Called to the cross and called to the love of God.