Embracing the Cross: A Call to True Discipleship

The teaching of taking up our cross daily and following Christ is not just one aspect of Christianity—it is the core of what it means to truly live as a disciple of Jesus. In fact, without the willingness to bear our crosses, it is impossible to fully claim the title of Christian. Jesus’ invitation to follow Him always includes the cross, and it’s not optional. For many, this teaching may seem hard to accept. We often prefer to focus on the more comfortable aspects of faith, but the reality is that without the cross, there is no resurrection, no true life in Christ.

In this week’s Gospel, we see a moment of both recognition and resistance. When Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter boldly declares, “You are the Christ.” In that moment, Peter gets it right—Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior. But almost immediately after, Peter recoils when Jesus reveals what kind of Messiah He is. The path of the Christ is the path of suffering, rejection, and ultimately death. This is not the triumphant, easy path Peter hoped for. And when Peter tries to resist, Jesus issues one of His sharpest rebukes: “Get behind me, Satan!” In other words, anything that tries to avoid or deny the cross is not of God.

Here is the challenge for all of us: we love the idea of Jesus as Savior, but do we also accept Him as Lord? Because if Jesus is truly Lord, then what He says is not just a suggestion—it is truth. And He is very clear about this truth: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Jesus doesn’t mince words here. He doesn’t say, “If it’s convenient,” or “Only when life is easy.” No. The cross is a daily call.

We might ask ourselves: what is my cross? For some, the cross may come in the form of personal trials, difficult relationships, or even the weight of anxiety, illness, or grief. For others, it may be the call to sacrifice deeply for others, to forgive those who have wronged us, or to stand firm in faith when it costs us something. Whatever form it takes, the cross is deeply personal, and it often touches the places in our lives where we least want to go. Yet, it is in those places that we meet Christ most intimately.

Let’s go even deeper: What do you really believe about Jesus? If we claim that He is Lord, then His words must hold the highest authority in our lives. That means we have to confront the uncomfortable reality that the way of Christ is not about avoiding suffering but about embracing it. This is a hard truth to accept, especially in a world that tells us to avoid discomfort at all costs. But Christ’s path is different. He tells us that through the cross, we will find life. Not just any life, but true, abundant, eternal life.

So, what are we avoiding? What crosses have we refused to take up? Is it fear of failure? Fear of rejection? Or maybe it’s the fear of stepping out of our comfort zones, of giving up control, of trusting that God’s way, though difficult, is ultimately the best way.

Jesus doesn’t call us to carry our crosses alone. He carried the ultimate cross for us, and when we unite our sufferings, our sacrifices, and our struggles with His, we are not just enduring hardship; we are participating in something much greater. We are walking the path of transformation, the path that leads to life.

Faith is not passive. James reminds us in the second reading that faith without works is dead. To follow Christ means more than simply believing in Him intellectually—it means living as He lived, loving as He loved, and sacrificing as He sacrificed. When we take up our cross daily, we are saying, “Yes” to God’s will, even when it’s hard, even when it costs us something. We are choosing to trust that His plan, though it may lead us through suffering, is the path to true joy and freedom.

Ask yourself today: Who do you say Jesus is? And if you say He is Lord, are you ready to follow Him wherever He leads, even to the cross?

The cross is not the end—it is the beginning of the path to resurrection. When we embrace our crosses, we embrace the fullness of life that Jesus promised. Let us, therefore, not shy away from the call of the Gospel. Let us take up our crosses daily, following Jesus with the assurance that through the cross, we will find victory, joy, and eternal life.

A Prayer for the Grace to Take Up Our Crosses

Heavenly Father,
We come before You today with hearts full of gratitude for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who showed us the true meaning of love through His sacrifice on the cross. Lord, we confess that it is not always easy to follow the path You have set before us. At times, our crosses feel heavy, and we are tempted to lay them down or run from them. But we know that it is through the cross that we are drawn closer to You and to the fullness of life.

Grant us the grace, Lord, to take up our crosses daily, not with fear or hesitation, but with trust and confidence in Your plan for our lives. Help us to deny ourselves, to surrender our will to Yours, and to follow You with a heart full of faith, even when the way is difficult.

When we feel weak, strengthen us.
When we feel lost, guide us.
When we feel overwhelmed, remind us that we are never alone, for You walk with us every step of the way.

Give us the courage, Lord, to embrace the cross, knowing that through it, we will find the joy of resurrection. May our lives reflect the love and sacrifice of Christ, and may we be living witnesses to the power of Your grace in the world.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.