In the first reading, God promises his blessing on those who keep their Covenant with him and observe his commandments. If they do not, they will perish.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus tells us very clearly what the following of Christ entails, “If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day and follow me..”
It is quite understandable that we would be afraid to “take up our cross each day.” We imagine what it was for Christ to carry this cruel instrument of torture and death. Could we even imagine ourselves carrying the cross as Christ did?
The following of Christ for us would most probably not entail the physical cross and suffering Christ himself embraced for love of us. What is Christ asking of his followers when he demands that his followers “deny yourself [themselves] and take up your [their] cross each day and follow me”?
Christ is asking his followers to deny themselves and not be centered on self, to put others ahead of self in what they do, to take inconveniences and suffering in imitation of the suffering Christ. He is asking that at times we give up certain pleasures and delights to be like so many men and women who lack even the barest necessities of life. He is asking that we accept the many daily crosses that come in our lives to be more like Christ.
To follow Christ is to be obedient like him to the Father’s will for us.
