Are You Ready to Carry Your Cross? Christ’s Call to Courageous Faith

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

Let us give thanks and praise to our Lord God for sending His only beloved Son, Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit, we acknowledge Christ’s living presence among us as we gather in prayer this hour. Jesus—our Teacher, Mentor, and Best Friend—is here right now, listening to our words and thoughts, walking with us through every joy and struggle, always loving us and drawing us closer to God.

 

Imagine yourself sitting beside the Lord, leaning in as He speaks words that pierce right to the heart: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and follow me, and together our hearts shall become one; one with our Father in heaven, united with the Holy Spirit.” This is the invitation Jesus offers every time we meet Him—whether in prayer, in adoration, or reflected in the faces of those around us. He calls us to a relationship where He comes first, a relationship that transforms us from the inside out.

 

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP: JESUS’ RADICAL CALL TO FOLLOW HIM

 

Today’s Gospel from Luke 14:25-33 isn’t an easy one. Jesus, surrounded by crowds, doesn’t sugarcoat what it means to follow Him. He says, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” That sounds harsh—almost impossible. But Jesus isn’t telling us to literally despise our loved ones. In His time, “hate” was a way of speaking about priorities. He means that our love and loyalty to Him must come before every other attachment, even the ones that feel like the foundation of our lives.

 

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He goes on: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” The cross wasn’t just a metaphor to Jesus’ listeners—it was a real instrument of suffering and death. So when Jesus tells us to carry our cross, He’s saying that following Him means sacrifice. It means surrendering comfort, ambition, and even our own plans if that’s what it takes to put Him first.

 

Then, with the examples of a builder and a king, Jesus urges us to count the cost. Discipleship isn’t something we drift into by accident. It’s a conscious, sometimes costly, commitment. “Anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Jesus asks for radical trust and detachment from anything that could keep us from Him.

 

LIVING THE PASCHAL MYSTERY: FOLLOWING JESUS WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

When we choose to follow Jesus as our Teacher, Mentor, and Best Friend, we’re choosing to live differently. We put others before ourselves. We sacrifice—sometimes in small ways, sometimes in big ones—just as Jesus sacrificed for us through His Passion, death, Resurrection, and Ascension: the Paschal Mystery. Through this Mystery, our sins are forgiven and our relationship with God is restored. The New Covenant, sealed in Jesus’ blood, isn’t a rulebook. It’s a relationship. God’s law is written on our hearts. Jesus doesn’t settle for lukewarm followers—He wants our whole lives because He gave everything for us.

 

So how do we live this out? How do we actually follow and imitate Jesus? Here’s the good news: We don’t do it alone. We ask the Holy Spirit for help, and the Spirit leads us—through prayer, through the Mass, through the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), and through our community. The world will sometimes make following Jesus hard, but the Holy Spirit gives us strength to put God first. The Spirit helps us see what we’re clinging to—what comes before Jesus in our lives—and gives us the courage to let go.

 

EVERYDAY CHOICES, ETERNAL REWARDS: THE BLESSINGS OF FOLLOWING JESUS

 

In real life, following Jesus might mean choosing honesty when lying would be easier, forgiving someone who’s hurt us, or being generous with our time even when we’re busy. It might mean speaking up for what’s right, even if it costs us something, or letting go of habits or possessions that keep us from loving God and others fully. And when we stumble (because we all do), the Spirit lifts us up and turns us back toward Jesus.

 

Now, the rewards of following Jesus run deeper than anything the world can offer. The joy He gives isn’t based on circumstances but on the unshakeable truth that we are loved. His peace isn’t the absence of trouble but the calm that comes from knowing our lives are in God’s hands. True freedom comes from letting go of what enslaves us—fear, guilt, unhealthy attachments—and discovering who God made us to be. In Christ, we belong to a family, the Church, where we’re loved, supported, and challenged to grow. The Holy Spirit gives us strength to face whatever comes our way. Jesus gives us purpose: to serve others, make a real difference, and live for what lasts. And above all, He promises us eternal life—life with God forever.

 

These rewards don’t always shine from the outside, but they are the kind of riches that never fade. Following Jesus asks a lot, but it gives us even more.

 

So today, let’s remember: Jesus calls us to put God above everything, to trust Him with our whole lives, and to believe that He alone leads us to the fullness of life our hearts are hungry for. Hear His words again: “My son, my daughter, I love you so much and am always with you.” Go out, friends in Christ, and give love, praise, thanksgiving, and glory to our Lord God always. Love and serve those around you as Jesus loves us all.

 

Amen.

 

ABOUT OUR GUEST 

 

Saint Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters—the One speaking through them is.

 

I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.

 

My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus—truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.

 

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