Shortly after Peter is called the Rock, and the foundation for Christ’s church, Jesus calls him “Satan” and tells him to focus on divine things, not earthly, human things. Shortly after his Wilderness temptation in the desert, Jesus is once again tempted to look away from his purpose and mission leading him to suffering and death and invited to consider a path of glory. In our Gospel today, we are reminded that taking up our cross is not just a walk in the park-and it isn’t just dealing with something unpleasant in our lives. Like Jesus, each of us have temptations to turn to that which is easier, comfortable, and stress-free. Taking up our cross is a choice we have-to acknowledge our sinfulness before God and declare our complete reliance on his grace and mercy, knowing that we can’t save ourselves, and knowing that the ONLY way to live as disciples of Jesus is to deny ourselves and live a life that focuses on loving God by loving our brothers and sisters. Taking up our cross means living the cross shaped life to which we are called in our Baptism-a disciple who loves God (Vertical axis) by loving neighbor (Horizontal axis). As we do that, we discover that is the ONLY way to truly live-now and forever!
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