TAKING UP OUR CROSS Luke 9:23

As most, if not all, of you know, a couple of months ago, my wife had knee replacement surgery. Though she was in the hospital for just one night, the post-surgery physical therapy requirements are rather grueling: three times a week for at least twelve weeks. Many nights she finds it difficult to fall asleep, and often enough, relied on a French song she has found on U-Tube to help her doze off. So, I became very familiar with the song, and I must say that I got to love it, and enjoyed listening to it. It is a beautiful song with a wonderful melody, sung by truly gifted singers. However, what really got my attention is the lyrics. They are so powerfully grounded in the scriptures, a testimony to our faith, and all that we expect to be, and do as Christians.

 The song’s title is: “Je Prends Ma Croix” (I take my cross). It is an artistic exposition of Jesus’ words to the disciples as found in Matthew 10:38, and in Luke 9:23, listed above. And, the more I listen to the song, the more I keep on thinking about what Jesus meant when he said “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” I am sure that you have heard this scripture before, especially during the holy week. Have you ever taken a moment to meditate on what it really means? I invite you to join me, and let us meditate on it together.

Understand that taking up one’s cross in the culture of the time when Jesus spoke these words meant facing the horrible pain and humiliation of Roman crucifixion. Usually condemned criminals were forced to carry their own crosses. But Jesus laid down his life voluntarily. He asked us to do the same – to commit our lives wholeheartedly to him, accepting any hardship this choice may bring. Acceptance of self-denial is thus a prerequisite to being a Christian. That is what Luke 9:23a tell us: “if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself (or herself)…” We must say no to any selfishness or unhealthy pride that could inhibit the genuine humility and faith God desires.

Quoting Proverbs 5:34, we read both in James 4:6 and 1Peter 5:6 that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Without denying our self-worth, Jesus asks us to deny our self-centeredness so that his priorities become our priorities. In the song “Je Prends Ma Croix” which is really a prayer, I hear, among other exaltations, the following words “In the morning when the world called me, between the fear and the eternal voice, I left behind my old choices, I lift up my eyes and walk by faith; I take up my cross and follow you Lord, even if the road is painful; for your love shows me the way. I take my cross, I believe in you. Help me to love like you, to forgive without condition or law, to serve without looking back and to reflect your light.”

To take up our cross and follow Jesus, we must lay down other cares and priorities – only then can we pick up our commitment to Christ. He calls us to a higher mission than to find comfort and tranquility in this life. Love of family is a law of God, but even this love can be self-serving and an excuse not to serve God or do his work. In Matthew 10:39 we read “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will save it.” This verse is a positive and negative statement of the same truth. Clinging to this life may cause us to forfeit the best from Christ in this world and in the next. The more we love this life’s rewards: leisure, power, popularity, financial security, the more we discover how empty they really are. The best way to enjoy life therefore, is to loosen our greedy grasp on earthly rewards to be free to follow Christ (Mat. 6:25). In doing so, we will inherit eternal life and begin at once to experience the benefits of following him.

Let us pray. Dear God, we praise your Holy Name, we glorify you, we magnify you, God of gods, Lord of lords. We thank you dear Lord for all that you have done and continue to do in our lives. We trust you, Lord. We believe in you. So, on this day O God, we pray that you will give us the emotional and spiritual strength to take up our cross and follow you dear Lord even if the road is painful, even if we have to go through the valley of the shadow of death. We know dear Lord that we need not fear because you are with us, that you will guide us in paths of righteousness, that your rod and your staff shall comfort us Omnipotent God. It is not about us, it is all about You. May your will be done in our lives we pray, in the matchless name of Jesus the Christ. Amen and Amen.

Written by Rev. Franck Aguilh