Let us not count the cost but embrace Christ and his plan for us. Let us take up our cross and follow him!
A reflection from the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time based on readings from
Isaiah 50:5-9, Psalm 116, James 2:14-18, Mark 8:27-35
These readings are available at the USCCB website.
Introduction
Today, Jesus asks a simple question, “Who do you say that I am?” That question still burns with us today. Who do you say that God is? There are a range of answers, I have seen the surveys. There are a lot of really good answers, and a lot of really bad answers.
Thinking as Human Beings
Take Peter, for instance. He really gets it – at least until he doesn’t. Peter proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One of God, and then tells him exactly how to be the Messiah. What? Killed on a cross? Heaven’s no! Look Jesus, I have a simpler way – much less suffering involved. This wasn’t the birth of the health and wealth gospel, but it surely comes close! Peter goes from hero to zero in less than four verses.
I find that comforting, in a comparative sense. I have made that prayer that basically goes, dear Lord, here is what I need, and here is when I need it, and it would be good if you could just…and don’t even think about doing that other thing.
God’s response: “Take up your cross”.
But, God, are you sure?
God’s response: “Take up your cross”.
It is really much easier to think as human beings do than to think as God does. It is certainly hard to admit that I might not have the best answer, and that simply trusting that God’s plan is the best way is in itself the best way. However, that is something we must do.
As Jesus instructs us, we must focus on what he askes of us. We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him.”
Carrying Our Cross
No one seeks out pain, that is unless we see the good in it. Our son loves to run. I have seen him at the end of a triathlon, in pain as he finishes the last of a full marathon. I have seen him afterward barely able to walk, and yet he is signed up to run another one.
The pain is worth it.
Listen to Jesus. The cross is worth it. Giving up our own lives to follow Jesus is worth it in this world and in the next. It is the way to live. Whatever our cross, our recognition that life is more about God and less about us, brings us to a different place, a higher plain. We become more Godly, more Christ-like as we joyfully go about the plan that Jesus has for each of us.
Just Do It
Returning to my sports analogy, sometimes we need to “just do it”. Our faith is not just a system of beliefs. It is not a philosophy or simply a way of life. It is a relationship with Jesus, our Lord and Master. We follow him, we imitate him, we give ourselves for him. We give ourselves in a love that imitates Christ, and we are never disgraced. We can take up our cross. We can set our face like flint knowing that we will not be put to shame.
Our faith demands we take action, without action our faith is dead, as St. Paul put it. Dead as a doornail.
Closing
As tempted as we might be to remake Christ in our own image; to make his plan for us more comfortable, we cannot improve upon God’s plan. Let us not count the cost but embrace Christ and his plan for us. Let us take up our cross and follow him! Let us become true disciples!
“Let us not count the cost but embrace Christ and his plan for us. Let us take up our cross and follow him! Let us become true disciples!”