THE WISDOM OF THE CROSS
IMMACULATE A IKEOTUONYE
ON WISDOM
A man who seeks good of himself and of others he it is who has acquired great wisdom.wisdom by her nature leads her children to parts not condemnable,she directs all that desire her. It is in wisdom that a confused mind can redirect the errors about to befall or the remedy in the cost of errors already done.
What a great treasure is wisdom to man, without her man is almost, completely nothing, since by the wisdom of the Almighty was Man formed. It is wisdom that gives light to the blind, to move in directions not destructive to him. Her part is straight and without blemish...
WISDOM DEFINED
The dictionary defines wisdom as an element of personal character that enables one to distinguish the wise from the unwise, while in theological state, it is the ability to know and apply spiritual truths. The desire for wisdom is the desire for Good and the desire for Good is the desire for God. He who has wisdom has Great power not only to govern himself but also the world. Wisdom made Solomon who he was, for among all that he desired and asked for was wisdom, because in the world of wisdom wealth is largely found.
No man is wise who cannot distinguish evil from Good. Wisdom is a light that govern the nation, a mighty stronghold to defend the weak, in her the oppressed is consoled. Many who have been raised high were all from the product of wisdom, for she has a lot of affection built in her. She calls but only few answers. Those who declined her calling has met their doom and all who heed to her calling are prosperous and happy. She's not hidden, she's everywhere; in the market places homes, schools, hospitals, streets and at the city Gates [proverb 1: 20 33].
Wisdom teaches her children what is just, right and fair. The Holy Spirit gives wisdom to all because it is the gift of the holy spirit. This gift gives great understanding to all who desire it. She opens the hearts of men to see the good of herself and the pearls she bears therein...Not all who are wise has Wisdom but whoever has Wisdom is wise. The unwise does not see the vanities of pleasure that he/she pursues, while the wise says to himself vanity of vanities all are vain. He who seeks Wisdom must resign totality to God, accepting all that comes to him/her from God as his will, be it good or bad. The person of job is nothing but the perfect symbol of wisdom. while in his misery he does not sort the cause of his sufferings but seeks to know the plan of God in his states of suffering.
The wisdom of the Cross was made manifest from the very moment of man's disobedience and fall in the garden of Eden, when our fore father's (Adam &Eve) chose foolishness over Wisdom by allowing themselves to be convinced and deceived by the serpent. The disobedience of Man led to the flew of wisdom from the garden of Eden {Genesis 3:1-6} and to restore what was lost by man, God in his infinite Wisdom sent his only begotten son to restore the fallen man ...for as man was defeated on the tree, man will be redeemed on the tree, so that the three of man's downfall, will be the tree of man's resurrection.
Therefore, the cross of Christ will become a tree of Life to all. It is no longer a forbidden tree where man was restricted not to eat from it, now the cross will be to man a source of shelter, a fruit of Life, a means to clothe our nakedness, stripped of us by the sins of disobedience; the sins of our forefathers, [Genesis 3: 7] a spring of living water, a throne to reign as kings/queens, a ladder to ascend the Heavens. the *Cross* would be to man the New garden of Eden.
It is the wisdom of the Saints (the cross), of great Prophets and of the martyrs of the church, who saw what great wisdom it is to carry their daily Crossed after their master and King. Jesus knew of the much benefit his suffering would be, both to the old and young, saints and sinners and so he took the Cross upon himself, yielding much benefits for we his lost flocks.
TO ALL CREATURES,THE GREATNESS OF OUR EXISTENCE LIES HEAVILY IN TAKING UP SAME CONDUCT OF CHRIST, THE CROSS. SINCE THE CROSS IS TO US THE NEW GARDEN OF EDEN, NO LONGER THE OLD GARDEN WHERE THE FORBIDDEN TREE MADE MAN TO SIN... HE WHO IS WISE AND HE'S WISDOM WILL EAT GREATLY OF THE FRUITS OF THE CROSS, FOR IN THIS NEW GARDEN A TREE FILLED WITH FRUITS IS GIVEN TO MAN.
NEVERTHELESS, THIS FRUITS THAT MAN MUST EAT IS IN HIS DAILY SUFFERINGS AND DISCOMFORTS OF LIFE, WHICH HE ACCEPTS AND OFFERS TO GOD FOR HIMSELF AND FOR ALL WHO ARE DEAR TO HIM, JUST AS CHRIST DID AND INVITES US DAILY TO DO...
It is in this manifold wisdom of the cross that Christ has ordered us to each pick up our crosses and follow him [Matthew 16:24].
THE CROSS IS A WOODEN TREASURE
The cross opens to us all dark tunnels and presents to us what is hidden in. Oh, what a tremendous way to say that the Good thief stole from the wisdom of the cross. He saw what the pharisees and scribes could not see, what the cruel soldiers could not see and what the other thief could not see even upon the cross. The cross is a palace of Peace. Admits pains there is solace, in fears there's calmness and consolation, and in the discomfort of weariness there is Joy... There is no resting place as on the cross.
A wood constructed by the *WICKED* , to deprive the son of God all that is comforting and consoling; this treasure the wise have cherished and keeping it for themselves and have also instructed their descendants to keep for themselves and for their children's children. To the unwise it is a plot that leads to damnation, a portion made for the destruction of all who desire or seeks it and a reproach to all who is not loved by God...
THE WISDOM OF MARY MAGDALENE AND THE CROSS
Oh, come and see the wisdom of the Cross, as in the Holy woman of Mary Magdalene, who from the image of sin is restored to the image of the Cross. Christ bearer of agony, I could but say.... she understood closely the sorrows of Christ and his blessed Mother, realizing that the cross of Christ is fashioned in love for her sake and for the sake of many who live the life of iniquity. One can hear purely that tender heart of Mary Magdalene reciting thus; " ```I love you Jesus my love above all things, I repent with my whole heart for having offended you. Never permit me to separate myself from thee again. Grant that I may love you always and then do with me what you will```
Wisdom does not run away from the truth, nor does her way lead to doom. she gives life to the dying and grants all her inheritance to her children ...(I am the way, the trust and the life) John 14:6. She is the lover of herself and pours out to the heart of many who too are eager to love . What is love without the good of wisdom?... He who has wisdom has love for the good of himself and of others. See through the wisdom of the saints and you will find the love they have for the cross.
Is he who is wise not Saintly? Likewise to say *"A Saint, a Cross bearer"*
The lives of our Saintly brothers and sisters are great reflection of wisdom in choosing the paths of the Cross, and not only has Christ given to us this wonderful invitation to pick up our daily crosses, but to the wise who beyond ordinarily, perceives the sweet fragrance of the Cross on which Christ's blood mingled and flowed, have seen what the structure of the cross truly represents. To him whose wisdom governs, who chooses this rough path, a desert and thorny road, to the place of the SKULL; yet a Heavenly banquet. Behold the measures of Love that is given by Wisdom to those who love the cross; the heavy burden of the cross which finds it's rest in Christ [Matthew 11:28-30]....
THE FOOLISH DETEST THE CROSS AS THEY WOULD TO WISDOM
In the foolishness of the eyes men, the Cross is condemnable and perishing, they say to themselves, we do not believe in what the cross proclaims, but the wise embraces the cross for what they have seen and believe.
The wisdom of the cross is best preached by Paul (1Corinthians 2:1-8) To Saint Paul the significant of wisdom is in the cross of Christ, rejected by the Jews and Gentiles, who thought that by crucifying Jesus Christ on the cross, the wisdom of Christ and the proclamation of the cross will be silenced.
The wisdom of the cross has find it's fulfilment in Christ death upon the Cross and his glorious resurrection, which brings life to all who bear the message the cross.
Again, let us recall that St.Paul in his formal state of life, stumbled over the cross of Christ but haven been found through the grace of God, he saw with his own eyes the great wisdom of God in the cross {1 Corinthians 2:6-16}. We too have so much stumbled over our crosses, we must rise again in Grace given to us by God to see, understand and proclaim the Cross.
THE CROSS AS OUR SOURCE OF SALVATION
It is through the loving embrace of our dially cross shall man find Jesus standing next to Him, willingly to help him carry our crosses, for alone we can do nothing.
The way of the cross leads to Heaven. No man has ever lived without a cross or escapes the cross. Surely, the cross must be boren willingly or unwillingly, with or without a merit. If man bears his cross unwillingly, man only makes it a greater burden than it is already. Man runs away from crosses offered to him only but to accept a heavier one ( unknowingly , for one cannot exist without a cross to bear).He who shys away from this cross, turns towards another cross even more heavier than what was offered him.
Do we fear the cross ? Go embrace the cross with a loving kiss, a loving smiles and an ardent love, for the strength through which we shall bear our crosses are hidden in the cross itself. Lift it up and see the secret that lies hidden in it.
Happy are those who have embrance the cross for they have seen the true value of the cross. It is no longer a mystery to them and the treasure that lies hidden have been given to them, they shall no longer seek to avoid the cross but rather seek to desire and cherish it more, for in it did they find true peace and joy which the pleasures of this world cannot offer. In the cross, they find wealth and riches, indeed , the cross offers to them richness of the soul and places them kings and queens over their being.
All lovers of the cross desire nothing but the cross for they see nothing but a lasting happiness that radiates from it .....What more do they see but a more greater taste, a taste sweeter than honey, they dispense themselves in bearing in the fore front their banners , the cross.
All who adore the cross fears not to lose their soul but rather they fear losing the cross which alone strengthens and feeds their very soul. Not without grace are they given but with an over flowing grace that comes from the king of the cross. Truly, the human nature shudders at the thought of suffering, but having built a castle of love, they conquer within them all that burdens their heart from embracing the cross.
However, those who find the cross, finds a sweet fragrance and always flames to be plunged unseasonal, for in it lies the hidden treasure of Christ’s love.
This beautiful structure, the cross, was always before Christ – beginning from the very moment of His incarnation, during His public ministry where He was ridiculed, rejected, accused, condemned & finally placed under the most painful death of a criminal, a death on the cross.
Our blindness to see the secrets hidden in the cross, upholds us to see that the cross is the signature of the resurrected Christ, ( as a mystic confirms ) and that we too will be fully resurrected only when we embrace the cross.
Let us read through the gospel of [matt.-16:24] there we see Jesus opening to us the very road that leads to His father’s throne, Thus, if anyone wants to come with me, He must forget self, carry His cross and follow me. He said, ‘’ cross ‘’ not the pleasures of this world, our wealth, cars or all that entices man; (although all of this are not bad in itself but takes it's values the moment it is being capitalized as our last end and only good). It is then clear to us, such that all who wants to be enrolled in the school of Christ must accept the subjects of the Cross as their course{s}.
What is the wisdom of the Cross without utmost Love, without sacrifice and lastly without crucifying the self to it.... The First, that love, which Christ offered from the beginning, in condescending into our human nature and in accepting the Cross knowing that our redemption is wrapped round it....
The second, in sacrificing all, even his Life for the salvation of all. Yes,for sinners born and yet unborn. There could be no sacrifice as befitting as giving up his very life for us....
The third, in which the self is totally denied of all wants, of self pity, of complaints and of despair, because of the little or no love foreseen by Christ; the reprobates, the scribes and the pharisees. And yet the burden of weariness gathering all his flocks, but sees them scattered in sin. The self, which by human nature trembles at the imagination of discomfort, would be subjected to a most cruel torment, a death on the Cross.
In other, then to remain sustainable on the wing of the Cross, the utmost important aspect in accepting our crosses is FORTITUDE , this gift must be acquired through the Holy Spirit, the very strength of the mind, which enables one to bear with courage all pains and afflictions that comes from the Cross.
CONCLUSION:
Contemplate greatly the lyrics of the song written by Isaac Watt ```"WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS"```
1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
So great are the works of wisdom to the heart of men, she not only pours out her dews of Love on her inhabitants, but gives freely to them the delight of humility. It is easier to have wisdom and to acquire Love to the brim, of which without humility, the Wise men would sings the anthem of pride ; so detestable by God and by his Cross, for God, haven loved the world,took the Cross of our salvation in humility and love.
In the wisdom of the Cross, man sees and understands all the vain things; the glittering pleasures and the likes of it that is entirely enticing. If man looks up to the Cross, he shall see in it all the good of his soul, in this world and in the world to come. He shall sacrifice the things that charms him most.
Previously,I have asked. What is love without the good of wisdom, and the Cross? The complexity of this question is seen in the third verse written by Isaac Watt.Here, sorrow and Love came together to form the symbol of the Cross, God's priceless gift for us and to all who in turn for the sake of the love they have for God, are still following in the footstep of Jesus Christ.
LASTLY; This is the wisdom of the Cross, the awareness that our life revolves round the Cross, either willingly or unwillingly, with or without merits.
What would a soul who in pursuit of happiness here on earth, not do in other to acquire that which surrounds happiness; now in the context of what makes the life of man pleasurable and comforting. Alas only temporary,since nothing of such last long, than in the pursuit of the Cross, the Cross which opens a path way for us, leading to a happiness not temporary nor permanent but to an eternal Bliss.
FIND WISDOM TODAY IN THE CROSS{ES} YOU BEAR
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