Take Up Your Cross

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.’ Mark 8:27-9:1

We are all human, flawed, and have many burdens to bear. Many of us, like Peter, have one moment of clarity and the next moment we are befuddled and stick both feet in our mouth. We are reminded that we all have a cross to bear, and we all are called to follow. Many of our fellow followers have hidden crosses, weights and pains we cannot see. Many of us struggle to put down our ego needs and our desire for respect and acknowledgement. Not putting down can cause us to stop following. May we all have the grace to take up our crosses and follow now.

Wondrous Creator, you have walked with us

through storms and trials you have led us

we have fallen down and you have picked us up

and you promise to lead us to green pastures.

Too often we stumble due to our egos and greed

we want to be the star and cannot pay the price

we refuse to bear one another's heavy burdens

often placing our burdens on those weighed down.

Help us to be humble and ready for following you

make us bear our crosses with hope and compassion

knowing that you have carried us all along

and will bring us to our everlasting home with you. Amen.