Being a disciple of Jesus is enriching and expands our worldly vision. Walking with Jesus
broadens the horizons of our daily responsibilities of work, community and society. A relationship with Jesus goes beyond scratching the surface. We are called to meet the wonder of God’s love in the everyday experiences of our lives. St Ignatius of Loyola would refer to this as “finding God in all things”.
This text tells us to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Our cross has been prepared, with love, for us by God. We are to carry our cross like faithful followers of Jesus. He will lead us along smooth and rough paths. Jesus spoke these words before his death on the cross. His
disciples must have been surprised by the reference to the cross, as it indicated a cruel and torturous death. But what he meant, in the context of his other teachings, was that his followers must die to themselves.
To be a disciple of Christ, we must be willing to let go of our plans and ways of living. It is impossible to follow Jesus while following our own path. It is a choice that we have to make. We must commit to walking with Christ, carrying our cross until the end of our life. We are not worthy to follow Jesus if we are not willing to live the righteous life we have been called
to.
We need not fear because we know that Jesus carried a cross, too, and was victorious. We honour him when we
take up our cross, die to self and live for him. When we carry our cross, we share in Jesus’ suffering so that we might share in his glory. The rewards of following Christ are worth the sacrifices we may need to make; it is worth everything.
The invitation is to take up your cross and follow Jesus. Reflect on what this means to you.
Reflections by Gillian Hugo
