For my latest Father Gabriel comic strip, I wanted to show Father Gabriel carrying his cross in the desert, showing symbolically the suffering he bears for the Lord Jesus Christ. As the quote below says:
“The one who knows God will follow the Lord’s footsteps, bearing the cross of the Saviour. It is said, “The world is crucified to him and he to the world.” The Lord says, “He who loses his life will save it.” We can “lose our lives” in one of two ways. First, we can risk our lives just as the Lord did for us. Secondly, we can separate our lives from the customary things of this world. Bearing the cross means to separate our souls from the delights and pleasures of this life. If you do this, you will find your life again – resting in the hope of what is to come. Dying to ourselves means being content with the necessities of life. When we want more that these necessities it is easy to sin.”
St. Clement of Alexandria in The One Who knows God
Like Father Gabriel, we all suffer in one form or another. The below sermon by Father Rick of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church shows how many of us carry the cross of Christ:
“True Crosses” by Father Rick
http://stgeorgegoc.org/pastors-corner/fr-ricks-sermons/true-crosses