ACC ~ Mark 8 v34b

BODY AS CROSS

TERTULLIAN: “Your cross” [1] means your own anxieties and your sufferings in your own body, which itself is shaped in a way already like a cross. ON IDOLATRY 12. [2]

[1] Mt 16:24; Lk 9:23; 14:27.

[2] Cetedoc 0023, 43.13; ANF 3:68**.

BEARING WITH VEXATION

CAESARIUS OF ARLES: What does this mean, “take up a cross”? It means he will bear with whatever is troublesome, and in this very act he will be following me. When he has begun to follow me according to my teaching and precepts, he will find many people contradicting him and standing in his way, many who not only deride but even persecute him. [1] Moreover, this is true, not only of pagans who are outside the church, but also of those who seem to be in it visibly, but are outside of it because of the perversity of their deeds. Although these glory in merely the title of Christian, they continually persecute faithful Christians. Such belong to the members of the church in the same way that bad blood is in the body. [2] Therefore, if you wish to follow Christ, do not delay in carrying his cross; tolerate sinners, but do not yield to them. Do not let the false happiness of the wicked corrupt you. You do well to despise all things for the sake of Christ, in order that you may be fit for his companionship. SERMONS 159.5. [3]

[1] Cf. Mt 5:11.

[2] Cf. 2 Pet 2:1-3.

[3] Cetedoc 1008, 104.159.5.3; FC 47:368-69**.

SUFFERING MOMENTARILY

AUGUSTINE: Turn, rather, to these teachings, my very dear friend: take up your cross [1] and follow the Lord. For, when I noticed that you were being slowed down in your divine purpose by your preoccupation with domestic cares, I felt that you were being carried and dragged along by your cross rather than that you were carrying it. What else does the cross mean than the mortality of this flesh? This is our very own cross which the Lord commands us to carry that we may be as well armed as possible in following him. We suffer momentarily until death is swallowed up in victory. [2] Then this cross itself will be crucified. The cross will be nailed to the fear of God. We would hardly be able to carry it now if it forever resisted us with free and unfettered limbs. There is no other way for you to follow the Lord except by carrying it, for how can you follow him if you are not his? LETTER 243, TO LAETUS. [3]

[1] Mt 16:24; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23.

[2] Is 25:8; Hos 13:14; 1 Cor 15:54-55.

[3] Cetedoc 0262, 243.57. 11.578.1; FC 32:226**.