Why does God allow us to carry crosses?

This homily begins with a simple but beautiful moment: a small child sees a cross hanging from his father’s neck and instinctively tries to kiss it. That image becomes the starting point for a deeper reflection on the mystery of the Cross and the way Christians are called to understand suffering.

The sermon explains that Christ carried the heaviest Cross of all. Because of His love for us, He bears our sufferings with us and gives each person the grace needed to endure the trials permitted in life.

The Cross is not simply punishment.

It can become a ladder to Heaven.

The homily also reflects on spiritual warfare: our fallen nature, passions, sins, and temptations are the enemies we must confront if we desire true union with God—theosis.

“There is no crown without victory.
No victory without contest.
No contest without battle.
No battle without a foe.”

We will fall. We will fail. That is why we repent, go to Confession, acknowledge our weakness, and rise again.

To carry the Cross means trusting Divine Providence even when suffering is painful, confusing, or unwanted.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, when you approach to venerate the Cross, do not merely kiss it.

Embrace it.

Thank God for the crosses He has permitted in your life and ask for the grace to carry them faithfully.

The Cross is the ladder to Paradise.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

00:00 “To Unquenchable Fire”
00:26 Glory to Jesus Christ
00:30 A Child Tries to Kiss the Cross
00:58 Recognizing the Beauty of the Cross
01:26 Something in Us Knows Christ’s Love
01:39 How That Awareness Becomes Dull
01:54 Rediscovering Our Natural Movement Toward God
02:06 An Elder’s Story About Carrying the Cross
02:22 Our Crosses Are Not as Heavy as Christ’s
02:42 Christ Carries Our Suffering With Us
03:04 God Gives Each Person a Cross to Bear
03:21 The Cross Is a Ladder to Heaven
03:28 Why We Focus Only on the Pain
03:42 Trying to Carry the Cross Without God
04:13 Why Forgive? Why Obey?
04:26 A Saint’s Quote About Spiritual Battle
04:51 No Crown Without Victory
05:05 Our Passions and Sins Are the Enemy
05:14 Entering the Spiritual Battle
05:22 Theosis and Union With God
05:37 Why We Need Confession
06:02 Repentance Makes Us Stronger
06:17 Fighting the Passions Within Us
06:29 Climbing the Cross Through Spiritual Victory
06:37 Removing Selfishness and Love of Sin
06:56 What It Really Means to Take Up Your Cross
07:04 Trusting Divine Providence
07:14 Discovering the Treasure Hidden in the Cross
07:42 Blessed Are Those Who Endure Tribulation
07:55 The Value of Crosses and Trials
08:16 Suffering and Martyrdom as Gain
08:23 Thanking God in Tribulation
08:40 “I Needed This for My Salvation”
08:45 Becoming Like Little Children
09:04 Recognizing the Things of God
09:12 Venerating and Embracing the Cross
09:21 Thank God for the Crosses in Your Life
09:35 The Cross Is the Ladder to Paradise
09:44 Glory to Jesus Christ

For more please visit https://lifegivingspringspodcast.podbean.com/ & remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest.

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