Take Up Your Cross

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “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 will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:21-28 

Take Up Your Cross

Loving Creator of seasons and lifetimes
you ask us to follow but we would lead
you all us to be humble and deny ourselves
we ache to return to greatness that never was.

We want so much to be renewed and energized
yet we refuse to let our power go to others
we hold on tight to the control we don't have
and refuse to see your face in the need around us.

Let us be like those ancestors before us
who always saw the holy in each and every one
who saw your imprint in the sand and mountains
who lived for others and lived for the Divine.

Strengthen us for service today and everyday
make us humble enough to follow you daily
into dark alleys and teeming streets of need
let us be the love you wish to share with our world. Amen