Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus says “Whoever who wishes to come after me must deny

himself, take up his cross and follow me”. This poses a great challenge, especially for us Christians since it is a clear reminder from Christ himself how the cross is essentially part of or lives as faithful and followers of the Lord.

You may ask, but what is the cross really all about?

Well, we may define the cross in so many different ways. During the time of Jesus, it is the greatest persecution; the instrument for the capital punishment of death for a criminal. It is like the silya elektrika during that time. And so it is not surprising that still, even Christians attributes the meaning of the cross to what is painful, or what causes death. You may consider it as poverty, a burden like sickness, a tragedy, or sorrow. It is far away from our own idea of what is pleasing, something that we dare not to have or experience, and yet here comes Christ asking us to take up our cross and follow Him! You may also ask, is Christ being sadistic here or what? Or simply ask why, what for?

Let us remember that Christ Jesus himself was not spared from the cross himself. He carried the cross’ burden even if He does not deserve it. He carried the cross in silence, uncomplaining, embracing it even- for the sake of our salvation. And so Christ gave a new meaning to the cross. More than poverty, pain, sorrow and death, it means denying of oneself for the sake of someone you love. It means becoming selfless, to lose one’s life for other’s sake. And so we can say that the cross can actually be our own selves, when we are being too selfish, pre-occupied with our own concerns, when what we only care about is me, myself and I. When we choose ourselves, than God, we become our own heavy cross, which burdens us and preventing us to follow Christ.

And so today, Christ challenges us to do the same: to give our very selves to others and to love big time; yes, to love even the unlovable. But of course, Christ is very realistic about it, it is not easy. Remember the when He was in Gethsemane; He himself showed some hesitation. But in the end, He willingly accepted it as the will of His Father. Today, we look up to the cross not a symbol of persecution like what it is really meant to be, but a symbol of Christ’s love and salvation, of Him giving up His life so that we may live. . It takes a lot of courage and great love for one to just what Christ did, and so we ask for the same grace of courage and great love so that we may be able to take up our own cross and follow him

So are you ready to take up your cross?

Journal # 2: The Parable of the Elder Brother

YOU are the younger brother.
JESUS, is your elder brother who gave up his life and left a trail of light for us so that we may find our way back home.

Even now, your father is waiting for you.

Thanks to Jesus, our Elder Brother, wherever we find ourselves in this world, there will always be light because Jesus, our Elder Brother, has been there.

Thanks to Him, our Elder Brother, God's first born, no place is so far or so dark that it falls beyond the love of God. Its time to go home. [1]

Points of Reflection:

• Go back to the story of the Parable of the Elder Brother. What struck you most in the story? What did you feel after hearing the story?
• Now, look into your own life, how is your relationship with your Elder Brother, Jesus? Had there been times when you somehow felt you are in the shoes of the younger brother? Bring this into prayer.
• How about your family? How's your relationship to your parents? To your siblings being an elder or younger brother/sister? The Elder Brother gave a perfect example how we must relate and show our love to our families. Are you willing enough to follow his example? If not what prevents you? Perhaps you may want to spend some time reflecting over these points in personal prayer.
• It is helpful to keep track of our prayer experiences by keeping a prayer journal. Note down all your feelings, significant movements, and the image of God you met after the prayer period.

"Wherever I go, I will leave a lighted candle. So even if I don't find him, he will know I've been there. Should he get lost, he will find a trail of light that can lead him back home."

- Elder Brother

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[1] Go, Johnny C., SJ, The Parable of the Elder Brother, Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc., 2006.