The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Sunday (Proper 19), September 15, 2024

Take Up Your Cross

In 2013, I earned an M.A. in Religion with a concentration in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS). My goals were to consider feminist and social justice issues through the lens of religion in my research and writing, and to find ways to bring spirituality into healing work I might do with women and girls.

In the second semester of my program, I attended a workshop on Valentine’s Day hosted by a local organization called Love 146. Love 146 is a nonprofit organization focused on ending sex trafficking in international and domestic settings. After the workshop, I started to explore the growing phenomenon of sex trafficking of children in the U.S.

Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) (which is sometimes called the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)), happens when an adult through manipulation, coercion, or force uses someone under the age of 18 for sexual exploitation and profit. As our government and international Non-Governmental Organizations became more aware of the international trafficking of persons, stronger penalties forced those in organized crime to focus on trafficking U.S. children within our own borders.

Children are vulnerable, because of their age, but also because of factors like homelessness, economic insecurity, and drugs and alcohol use. Children are moved across state lines for large sporting events and concerts, or to large tourist locations like Las Vegas or Atlantic City. However, trafficking happens on a smaller scale in cities and rural spaces, and at truck stops. as well as on and near reservations.

Looking at DMST from the point of view of religion made sense to me, because I believe there is brokenness in the demand that drives the industry. There is also a lot of spirituality and hope present in the healing and restoration of survivors. Many of the anti-trafficking organizations are faith-based in nature and were founded by survivors to help other survivors.

One of my heroes is Rachel Lloyd the founder of GEMS, Inc, an organization in New York City dedicated to helping young girls who are survivors of trafficking. Because she is a survivor, Lloyd understands the emotional needs of these young girls. Lloyd and others like her, also worked hard to push legislation on the local, state, and federal level, so that law enforcement and the courts would begin to see young women as victims rather than criminals. Because of these efforts, young girls picked up for solicitation will be diverted to programs where they can receive help instead of facing incarceration.

When I gave my first presentation about DMST in divinity school, a friend asked me, “Well what about the idea that suffering is redemptive?” She explained that in her traditional Christian upbringing, women especially, were taught that to suffer is to be closer to God. Having worked on women’s issues for many years, I have heard victims of domestic violence describe their abuse as their “cross to bear.” So, I did understand her question.

I believe that my answer at the time was that I do not believe that suffering is redemptive and that suffering in and of itself is not valuable. However, if a person can use their past trauma to help others that experience can be transformative. Even though I answered the question to the best of my ability, it has remained with me throughout the years.

In our Gospel reading this week in Mark, Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple, must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34b NRSV) Whereas a traditional idea of redemptive suffering seems static, this directive given by Jesus sounds active and dynamic. Perhaps the cross we take up represents some challenge or heartache that is present in each of our lives. In that case, taking up one’s cross seems like an action we take to move forward despite the pain.

The denying of oneself can mean looking beyond one’s own suffering to be concerned about the rest of humanity. My heroes tend to be people who have found a way not only to leave a challenging situation but also to create a path for others to break free.
Finally, following Jesus seems to have everything to do with healing others and spreading the good news of the Gospel.

In my opinion, suffering in and of itself is not necessary to be closer to Jesus; however, because Jesus suffered, he understands our pain when we suffer. The omnipresence of God is often the comfort one needs during challenging times. God is certainly present during the time of healing. And then when we are ready, we can take up our cross and join Jesus in his work of healing others.

As I continue considering social issues through the lens of religion, I am still not sure I could adequately answer my friend’s question. However, the exploration of ‘bearing one’s cross’ in a new way has exposed me to many more examples of the transformative work of survivors, who make space for other survivors and engage in the bold and courageous work of social justice.

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Gabrie’l J. Atchison earned an M.A. in Religion from Yale Divinity School, and a Ph.D. in Women’s Studies from Clark University. She is an adjunct professor of Gender Studies, a blogger, and an author. Dr. Atchison is the editor of Environment and Religion in Feminist-Womanist, Queer, and Indigenous Perspectives a series by Lexington Books. She is author of Are You The Unchurched?: How to Develop a Relationship with God Inside or Outside of Church and a co-author of More to this Confession: Relational Prison Theology with Chris Barbera. She is a contributor to Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God, Edited by Jeff Wells, Thomas Jay Oord, et. al. and The Creation Care Bible Challenge, Edited by Marek P. Zabriskie. She lives in Buffalo, New York with her dog, Jack.