Where is the Cross?

Take up your cross everyday and follow me

This is a very familiar phrase. If you want to be my disciple, you must pick up your cross and follow me, and do so each day. Christ did this and showed us by example. Each day He picked up his cross in the form of the injustices he confronted, dining with the sinners, mingling with the lepers, and walking against the tides of the pharisees and scribes.

On Good Friday, Jesus literally picked up the wooden cross and climbed the slope of Calvary. There He was stripped and nailed to the cross on which He died. Shortly after, He was taken down from the cross and buried. The witnesses descended Calvary and left the bear cross behind. On the day of the resurrection no one talked about the cross.

For the last forty days of lent, the cross some of us picked up each day was giving up eating or doing something. We did so with the anxiety for Lent to be over, so we can return to our normal habits, that is, lay down the cross. Lent is over. Easter is here. The season continues, but where is the cross? Did we abandon it on Calvary when we ascended on Good Friday?

In Cross, a poem in Garden of Thoughts, the author has this advise:

Find the cross of your life!
It is in your spouse, kids, foes,
friends, co-workers, neighbors;
Everywhere.

Accept it as it is!
You cannot change its shape,
weight or symmetry
Not even its composition.

Venerate it always!
This is the joy of being human
Humanity is across.

Find the cross of your life;
It’s not an obstacle.
Accept the cross of your life;
It’s the Master’s identity.
Venerate the cross of your life;
It’s the bridge to salvation.

The cross is not a seasonal crony. It is a lifetime commitment. Every day is Good Friday. Every day is Easter Sunday.
May you draw joy, peace and grace from the veneration of your cross throughout this Easter Season and the days to come.

Profile of The Very Reverend Agapitus Nfon

"Priesthood is not a status, priesthood is service.

... and whenever those challenges come, look up to Christ on the cross. He will have answers to the challenges and problems.
... pray for us... also realize that we are human beings chosen from among people and raised to the order of the episcopate. ... weaknesses of the human being are not taken away from the person. So, we need a lot of prayers and support.

... I wish to thank the Christians of this Province for the support they have been giving."

Auxiliary Bishop-elect, Archdiocese of Bamenda

• Diocesan Priest of Kumbo Diocese
  
• Native of Djotin in Noni Sub-Division, North West Region of Cameroon.
• Son of Papa Joseph Nfon (RIP) and Mama Odilia Kinenla.
• Second of eight children, six girls and two boys.

11th February 1964: Born at Shisong, Diocese of Kumbo.

Sacraments
20th February 1964: Baptized in St. Joseph’s Parish Church, Djotin by Rev. Father Jansen, MHM
17th August 1969: First Holy Communion
15th June 1971: Confirmation
29th June 1989: Ordained deacon
22nd March 1991: Ordained Priest, by Rt. Rev. Cornelius Fontem Esua, Bishop of Kumbo
31st May 2011: Episcopal Ordination

Education
1969-1976: Primary education in St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Djotin
1976-1983: Minor Seminary, Bishop Rogan College, Soppo – Buea
1983 -1990: Major Seminary, St, Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Bambui
Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy (B.Phil.) in 1986
Bachelor’s Degree (B.D.) in Theology in 1990
1998 – 2001: Licentiate Degree in Theology (STL), Institum Patristicum Augustunianum, Rome

Appointments
1990: St. Martin de Porres Parish, Binju-Nkambe; St. Theresa’s Quasi Parish, Sop (Ministry of the Diaconate); Teacher, St. Sylvester’s Catholic Comprehensive College, Sop
1991-1992: Rector of St. Theresa’s Quasi Parish Sop
Assistant Priest in the St. Thresia’s Cathedral Parish, Kumbo
Manager of Catholic Schools in Kumbo and Meluv Parishes
1991-1993: Teacher and Chaplain in St. Augustine’s College, Kumbo
1993-1994: Parish Priest and Manager of Schools of St. Pius X’s Parish, Tatum
1994-1996: Bishop’s Secretary and Diocesan Financial Secretary
1996-1998: Principal of St. Augustine’s College, Kumbo
Diocesan Chaplain of the Catholic Women’s Association (C.W.A.)

2001 Bursar of the Major Seminary, Bambui, Instructor, Patristic Theology
2005-2011: Rector of St, Thomas Aquinas’ Major Seminary Bambui
Member of the Senate of priests of the Archdiocese of Bamenda
Member of the Finance Committee, of the Senate of Priests
Member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Kumbo
2011 -: Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Bamenda

I Can Be Stripped Of My Garments

The Tenth Station of the Cross - Jesus is Stripped of His Garments – is worth reflecting on.

Negativity is a common feature of the human being. I am guilty of it. I am very much in harmony with it. I have experienced and lived it in various circumstances, forums and communities. It is time to strip off the garments of negativity, the personality affections including pride and ego in order to place my love in Christ through his people, particularly those I regularly encounter.

Jesus was stripped. He knew letting go of his garments would lead to a shameful exposition of his body. He also knew the garments were earthly, and hanging on to them would be an obstacle to glory. He had to choose between hanging on and letting go. He let go immediately.

Quite often I hang on and do not let go, simply because I do not want my other part(s) exposed. I "garment" and hide my shamefulness even from myself. But sooner or later, someone is going to take off my garments. And when that happens the degree of shamefulness may be worse than if I had gradually done so on my accord.

But I find it hard to take off the garment, let alone allow some one to help do so. How do I break the long established bond with those I have been shopping with in the negativity mall? How do I move to the other side? How do I explain my sudden change from a negative behavior, which has been my identity and anthem to a positive one?

No! I do not have to explain anything. Christ did not have to explain why out of a sudden he was stripped of his garments. He had one thing in mind and in focus - obeying His Father's will for the love and salvation of his people. His shamefulness was short lived. The glory out of it was eternal. If only I can focus on the long term, I will let go of my negative garments to face the short lived shamefulness.

I cannot do this alone. With prayer, willingly, and with the help of trusted persons, I can. And so I pray:

My Lord,
Fill me with the the wisdom to know when to let go!
Help me this day and every moment of my life
to take off the garment of negativity.
Give me the courage to request, obtain and
put on the garment of forgiveness.
Let me be a source of clothing and healing
to my community and all I encounter.
...
image source: http://www.wischik.com/irene/cross/