July 29, 2023

The word identity is from a root word meaning “the same.”  When we identify with something, we experience that thing as ourselves.  As psychologically unformed infants and toddlers, we identify with everything, often crying when objects are taken from us, as if we are losing part of ourselves, or becoming upset when somebody else gets hurt, as if it were us.  As we enter adolescence and begin to identify with other people romantically, the attachment can be so strong that we totally lose ourselves and become disillusioned with life.  Even as more capable adults, we can feel stuck when we identify too much with one thing, or we can find ourselves in an endless cycle of career changes, geographic moves or new relationships, hoping to figure ourselves out.  Let’s make the decision today to identify with Jesus, who, especially crucified, cannot but resist attachment (Jn 20:17) and lovingly redirect us to our heavenly father.  In doing so we will experience his same resurrection (2 Tim 2:11) and share the same Christ life with him (Gal 2:20). Now that’s an identity that lasts!  Ave Crux, Spes Unica.