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and thosethey considered sinners, he was called a glutton.
Allegations and accusations were heaped on him;he was branded
and became a victim of profiling. Yet, the Cross is a call to take
the accusations and allegations head-on instead of finding an
escape route and running away. The Cross calls us to take family
relationships and responsibilities seriously, and to discharge
our duties towards family with faithful diligence. Many a time
varied problems and difficulties, pain and sufferings become
an excuse to shrug off or to get away from and to neglect our
responsibilities. The Cross is a call to be faithfully committed
and diligently covenanted to our family responsibilities even
amid life’s bitter challenges that threaten to sap our energy and
hope.

The Cross educates and empowers us to understand life’s
goal. “It is finished(John 19:30). Father, I commend my Spirit
into your hands” (Lk. 23:46). Jesus expresses his eagerness to
reach his life’s goal. “Guard the good treasure entrusted to you,
with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us” (2 Tim 1:14). Jesus
moved to fulfil and complete the mission entrusted to him. The
Cross did not deter him from bringing to fullness the redemption
of the whole world. He had to go through a terrible struggle
to the extent of praying with all earnestness and asking “My
Father if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not what I
want, but what you want”.And he had the humble submission
in sincerely bringing his struggle before his Father. The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. If this cannot pass, unless
I drink it, your will be done(Matt 26:39-42).

The Cross is a call to move towards life’s goal with
single-minded determination and fullest commitment and
dedication. It is a call to take each step steadily towards the goal.
Because Jesus walked steadfastly towards the goal, he had to
face the Cross. Whoever lives out the faith commitment and
covenantal obligations without a compromise and moves with

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Lenten Meditations Re - Imaging People