BAPTISMAL CROSS

Onesimus, a slave's name, means “useful”. We are each called by God to be useful to the divine plan. The baptized Onesimus is equal to any one of us. Because of Jesus, we are all brothers and sisters in God’s family. We are not the same; each of us is unique and has different gifts of the Spirit, but we all serve “in our place” the wisdom of God’s intentions. Our baptismal cross is the key to a true disciple of the one Master, Jesus. He says: “Follow me!” Do you take up your cross?

Text, Philip J. Sandstrom, STD © 2001, OCP. All rights reserved.

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. Illustration © 2001 S. Erspamer.

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