Somehow the cross is a powerful moral and spiritual invitation that is presented to us in the significant occasions of our lives and every single day.  It is as if at the funeral of a loved one, or our children’s weddings and baptisms, we are to peer beyond the emotions of the day, to find a  cross; the key to unlocking that sacrament and a fuller life.  Sure, we can ignore it and stay on the surface.  Or we can pick it up, noticing at first that it is heavy and grievous, contrary to our will and displeasing to our nature. But then by the grace of God and in the fullness of time we will find that our load is lightened and that what was a burden has now become a mission, a new perspective, a new take at living life to the fullest for God and others.