The Cross - In the Life of Blessed Daniel Comboni

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.