50．背起十字架

［词语］to bear one's cross

to carry one's cross

［含义］忍受苦难；经受磨难

［趣释］【经典喻指】古罗马刑法规定，死刑犯必须将处死自己用的十字架（the cross）背到刑场。十字架很笨重，犯人背着它，身心都受到折磨。据《圣经·旧约》（Bible Old Testament）记载，耶稣（Jesus）到耶路撒冷（Jerusalem）去传教，预感到自己将遭厄运，便对门徒（disciples）说，如果有人跟着他，就背着十字架跟他走。果然，祭司长和长老认为他宣扬异端邪说、蛊惑人心判他死刑。耶稣背着沉重的十字架前往刑场各各他（Golgotha），被钉死在十字架上。后来，人们用“十字架”（the cross）喻指苦难；用“背起十字架”（to bear the cross）喻指忍受苦难，经受磨难。

［运用］Everyone has his own cross to bear in his life． 每个人一生中都有苦难要承担。

The poor woman has to bear a terrible cross, for her husband is too ill to work． 这可怜的女人只好含辛茹苦地过日子，因为她丈夫患病，干不了活。

He was paralyzed as a young man, but he has borne his cross patiently． 他从年轻时就瘫痪了。可是，他却艰难地忍受着这种苦难。

Every man has his cross to bear． 人人都有本难念的经。