The Cross

THE CROSS- (IN THE LIFE OF BLESSED DANIEL COMBONI) Raul B. Tabaranza,mccj One of the highlights of the Lineamenta for the XVI General Chapter of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus is the ‘Charism and Spirituality of the Comboni Missionaries.’ It reiterated the topic of the Cross, basing from Rule of Life #4: “In the spiritual journey of our founder, the cross became and always more inseparable companion. A Comboni Missionary is conscious of this, and places the Crucified, Risen and Living Lord at the centre of his life, and is ready to make his own fate of the people to whom he has been sent, even until the supreme sacrifice of martyrdom.” I thought therefore of having a special veneration of the Holy Cross, as we, the followers of Comboni are on the same journey, where we are ‘called to accept and live the dynamic of hope, and to be in solidarity with all the crucified in history. In many of the talks given, we deepened our understanding of contemplation and prayer, as we also reflect the mystery of the Cross, and to make it the centre of our missionary life, so as to live profoundly the life of the One who is crucified. I invite you to reflect of the grace of an acute awareness of our helplessness, as failures became part of our daily bread. We should look moments of our pains and anguish, which have lasting effects in our lives, so that we will have profound understanding of Christ’s passion and resurrection. In the life of our congregation, ‘fidelity and total self-donation’ remain our total commitment. In the community, we seek to enter into the Crucified, so that we ‘may not shrink in front of difficulties, but to remain patient and strong in bearing solitude, weariness and the apparent futility of our work.’ I also invite you to enter into a dialogue with the Crucified Christ. Fix your gaze on the Cross and tell him whatever you have in your heart. REFLECTION Jesus recognized that society needs compassion and care. He was never afraid to show his affection and love, as he sided with the poorest, the oppressed and the outcast. He became a great challenge to his own Church and the society as his action manifested a revolt. Jesus’ experience should challenge us to become aware of the darkness in the world and the oppressing structures that exploits people and their dignity and rights of decent living. As what I have said in my invitation, we need to enter into the life of the Crucified, who was completely stripped off other dispositions and was crowned with scandal and shame. We too, stripped off other’s dispositions; we too do not look directly on the face of the person or straight into the depth of his eyes. Jesus was denied of his story, as we deny the story of our brothers/sisters. The Crucified leaves a lasting impression. We are invited to enter into his life and deep in our souls, we begin to see others, to engage stories, to read the signs of the times and its challenges. As Comboni Missionaries, vowed for mission, there is nowhere to hide. Our consecration, on which, we allowed to be nailed on the Cross with Christ, ignites zeal for the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The ‘Consecrated Life of the Third Millennium’ affirmed this, saying: “Consecrated to Christ and to the service of His Kingdom, their witness in following Him, has brought them to the point of the Cross (…) It is not the pain that brings us to the Cross, but rather the cause. COMBONI WAY: KISSING OF THE CROSS Part of this reflection has been based from the book “Called to be Witnesses.” For Comboni, the Cross provided a mystical experience. The Cross was a friend, light and support, his precious companion, gentle, comfort, treasure, sweet burden, inseparable and eternal spouse. He had a mystical marriage with the Cross, and he was aware that without the Cross, missionary work is not effective. We must go through the ‘Crucible of the Cross.’ Comboni admitted that God has made for him a road that of the Cross. The Cross is the wisdom for Comboni, for he believed that it is not possible to serve a crucified people without being crucified with them. I have seen in fact, the greatest challenge of carrying our own crosses walking through unforeseeable future, to go where the Lord would bring us. In his deep emotional pain, Comboni said: “I thank God for all the crosses. My life is an ocean of worries brought on me by those who are good and who love me.” Worn-out, overburdened and exhausted, with constant attack of fever, he wrote: “The Cross is the royal road which must be travelled by those who want to arrive at the triumph.” This is precisely the way of offering our lives to God, reduced by our own human powerlessness so that all might come from His strength. I see very much where our souls are being led- into complete uncertainty, confirming faith of the Church, sometimes in hidden witnessing, engaging into the Church of martyrs. We just have to be happy and faithful, for our offering, as vowed for mission is truly an authentic sign to our society. With the conviction that God’s works grow where he sends the Cross, Comboni kissed the Cross and pressed it into his heart: “Only the Cross has the strength to work miracles.” In the spirit of our founder and in deep veneration of the Holy Cross, let us give our thanksgiving and love as we also kiss the Cross.