“If God truly loves us, why must we suffer?” This question haunts believers, especially when we witness tragedies like children gunned down at prayer. Yet the answer lies at the foot of the cross. God did not abolish earthly suffering—He entered into it. Tortured, crowned with thorns, carrying the cross to His crucifixion, Christ demonstrates that in our suffering, we are not alone. The cross stood on Calvary, visible from the surrounding lowlands—a profound symbol that even in death, Christ remains visible to all who seek Him. But what happens when society loses sight of that cross?
The 20th century’s defining ideologies—Nazism, Communism, and Liberalism—all produced horrific crimes against humanity. While Liberalism survived as the apparent victor, it too sits upon a pile of bones, though these are better hidden. The bodies are labeled “medical waste” and disposed of quietly, sparing society the confrontation with its own horrors.
The hard truth is that the cross is heavy. Christians must “take up and carry” their cross, living through suffering with eyes fixed on God. Yet Christ also tells us “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” The cross is paradoxically light because the alternative—life without God—brings far greater horrors. It is difficult to live continently, but more horrible to destroy the life you’ve created. It is hard to be strong, but worse to fail those you’re meant to protect.
We have gradually lost sight of the cross, erecting barriers to avoid seeing Our Lord’s sacrifice. We’ve created a cult around the belief that suffering is inherently evil and must be abolished. But since natural suffering cannot be eliminated, this ideology becomes a cult of death. Consider Canada’s assisted suicide program. It began with seemingly reasonable cases—terminally ill patients in severe pain. But once accepted, the logic expanded: treatable patients suffering intolerably, then those with mental conditions like depression, and finally pressure on vulnerable individuals to die for economic reasons. Today, nearly one in twenty Canadian deaths are state-sanctioned medical suicides.
This is what losing sight of the cross produces. While assisted suicide is marketed as painless, clinical, and clean, the cross represents the opposite. Crucifixion was excruciating and public. Yet Christ’s death carries infinite meaning. Through His agony, He forgave the repentant thief and conquered death itself, setting us free. Through our suffering, we follow Him. We set examples for others and give hope to those we love. Suffering is never easy, but keeping our eyes on the cross reveals meaning even in pain. When we look away, claiming it’s too painful to bear, we create far more suffering for ourselves and others. Heavy as it is, the cross remains ours to bear—our birthright as people redeemed by Christ. Regardless of what storms come, we have a duty to march on, carrying the cross given by our Lord and Savior.
