November 19

Bearing The Cross

and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. — Matt 10:38 BSB

It is remarkable that in Matthew 10:37, Jesus faces all of humanity and demands their supreme love, asking us to love Him more than even our closest family members. He does not explain or justify His request. The only reason this claim is reasonable is that He is the Son of God who died for us on the cross and that each of us holds a special place in His divine-human love. How sobering is the phrase, “is not worthy of Me.” In this sense, there is not one among us who is truly worthy of our Lord.

Christ asks not only for our hearts but for our entire lives. Self-denial for His sake is the mark of a true disciple. It is a strange procession, this group of cross-bearers following the Crucified One. Each person has their own specific form of self-denial, and it must be undertaken willingly.

The confession Christ asks from us is not just a one-time profession of faith with our lips; it is a continuous acknowledgment of Him, both in word and deed, throughout our lives. The surrounding verses make it clear that this confession will often have to be maintained in the face of opposition, sometimes in its most painful form—opposition from within our own homes. Many of us would find it easier to face external persecution or the wrath of a tyrant than to endure the teasing, sneers, and criticisms of those closest to us. In every generation, there have been those who stood completely alone for Christ, not hating their loved ones but being hated by them because of their allegiance to Him. It is often the case that the most devoted love and care is met with cold indifference or even outright persecution. Nothing is harder to bear, but the only course we have is to silence the critics through patient perseverance in doing good, always trusting that God is faithful and that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can endure.

Prayer

Be the strength and comfort in every trouble and need we face, O God. If we suffer for Christ, may we not retaliate; if we are spoken against, may we respond with blessings; if we face fiery trials, may we rejoice; if we are lonely and desolate, may the Holy Spirit make Jesus real to us. Amen.