WEEKLY REFLECTION 
In the Gospel narrative today, Jesus makes a direct connection between discipleship and the cross. The cross was indeed a genuine and real instrument of abusive torture, suffering, and death in Jesus' life. It had no happy component. But, for subsequent Christians it has become a symbol of Jesus' Salvific Death and Resurrection along with being a metaphor for fully and freely engaging in real human life, whether messy and painful or happy and fulfilling.

The discipleship bestowed by the Gospel message of today demands that each believer embrace life as fully as possible, and in doing so, that each embrace the cross. This is a necessary connection. No Cross; no discipleship. From such faith-filled embrace of life with the Gospel derive for Christians all the virtues of compassion, mercy, fidelity, truthfulness, forgiveness, conversion, charity, and the like. Believers know intuitively that life is indeed worth living, and that it is good to suffer for a noble and worthy purpose. No disciple of Jesus Christ would have a life free from suffering and pain.

Again, it is not unfair to say that the cross has become somewhat glamorous. Crosses are displayed in Churches, in homes, on jewelry and in other places. The cross has lost the original significance of its symbolism. Yet this must not allow us to lessen the profundity of Jesus' call. 

There are often times when we would seek to escape suffering, but many people today still die for their faith. Many people who walk among us, who share our daily lives, remain steadfast in faith despite great suffering. Often this happens silently, but it always reflects a similar truth- that the Christian faith is more profoundly focused when it is seen through the lens of this suffering. “TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME!”