Today's meditation: May the cross be your joy

Without doubt, every action of Christ is a source of glory for the Catholic Church; but the cross is the glory of the glories. This is exactly what Paul said: Far be it from me to glorify myself if not in the cross of Christ (cf. Gal 6:14).
It was certainly an extraordinary thing that the poor born blind man regained his sight at the swimming pool of Sìloe: but what is this compared to the blind people all over the world? Exceptional thing and out of the natural order that Lazarus, who died for four days, returned to life. But this luck fell to him and only him. What is it if we think of all those who, scattered throughout the world, had died of sins?
The prodigy that multiplied the five loaves was amazing, supplying food to five thousand men with the abundance of a spring. But what is this miracle when we think of all those who on the face of the earth were tormented by the hunger of ignorance? Likewise, the miracle that in a moment freed from his infirmity the woman whom Satan had kept tied for eighteen years was worthy of admiration. But what is this also in comparison to the liberation of all of us, loaded with so many chains of sins?
The glory of the cross illuminated all those who were blind to their ignorance, dissolved all those who were bound under the tyranny of sin and redeemed the whole world.
We must not therefore be ashamed of the cross of the Savior, indeed gloràmocene. Because if it is true that the word "cross" is a scandal for the Jews and foolishness for the pagans, it is a source of salvation for us.
If for those who go to perdition it is foolishness, for us who have been saved, it is God's fortress. In fact, it was not a simple man who gave his life for us, but the Son of God, God himself, made himself man.
If once that lamb, immolated according to the prescription of Moses, kept away the exterminating Angel, shouldn't the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world have greater efficacy to free us from sins? If the blood of an unreasonable animal guaranteed salvation, should not the blood of the Only Begotten of God bring us salvation in the true sense of the word?
He did not die against his will, nor was violence to sacrifice him, but offered himself. Listen to what he says: I have the power to give my life and the power to take it back (cf. Jn 10:18). He therefore went to meet his passion of his own will, glad of such a sublime work, full of joy within himself for the fruit that would have given the salvation of men. He did not blush on the cross, because it brought redemption to the world. Nor was he a man who suffered from nothing, but God made man, and as a man all striving to achieve victory in obedience.
Therefore the cross is not a source of joy for you only in time of tranquility, but is confident that it will be equally in the time of persecution. It is not for you to be a friend of Jesus only in time of peace and then an enemy in time of war.
Now receive the forgiveness of your sins and the great benefits of the spiritual donation of your king and so, when the war approaches, you will fight brave for your king.
Jesus was crucified for you, who had done nothing wrong: and wouldn't you allow yourself to be crucified for him who was nailed to the cross for you? You are not the one to give a gift, but to receive it even before being able to do it, and later, when you come to this enabled, you simply return the gratitude, dissolving your debt to the one who was crucified for your love on Golgotha.