How Much...How Long?

~~~ Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest ~~~

~~~ Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7 ~~~ Deuteronomy 32:39b ~~~ Matthew 16:24-28 ~~~

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me..."

Is it really necessary to deny yourself
and take up your cross to follow Jesus?
Why isn't is sufficient to do one or the other?

How is it possible to deny yourself?
What do you deny?
How much...how long must you
deny yourself?
Following Jesus is not a pleasant path to follow;
it is not easy to deny yourself.

It is very difficult to pick up your cross
and then be expected to drag it around with you.

Why can't we just acknowledge our cross and go on down the road?
Why must we be required to keep it with us?

Taking up your cross is not like a young child
 carrying around their security blanket.
On second thought, carrying our cross
might serve the exact same purpose.

Our cross is our security blanket; we have been saved by the cross...
the cross that Jesus carried for the sins of the whole world.

Denying yourself is not the same as going on a fad diet.
Denying yourself is not giving up chocolate candy.
Denying yourself is not sleeping on the floor.
Denying yourself is not walking for miles across the desert.

Denying yourself is to accept that God is in control of your life.
Denying yourself is to let God work through you.

The backpack you casually sling across your shoulders
 may not be the same as taking up your cross.

But whenever you are carrying something across your shoulder
 think about how you are denying yourself.

When you are carrying a heavy bag of groceries think
 about the cross you carry compared
to the one Jesus carried.

Blessings sometimes come in disguise...
through denying yourself...
through cheerfully carrying your cross.
~~~Peace~~~