The Lord speaks directly and to the heart: all disciples must take up their crosses and follow Him. What’s our unique cross today, and how will we carry it? May we call upon Christ for the courage and conviction we need.
Mass Readings – 22nd Sunday of the Year
Jesus teaches us that the path to eternal life requires us to take up our cross. During our lives we will make countless offerings to the Lord, and through these sacrifices we will experience the triumph of the Cross of Christ.
Readings – Friday of the 18th Week of the Year
St. Paul speaks plainly about the imprisonment and hardships that await him, yet his courage to face his Cross inspires us to pick up our own.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 7th Week of Easter
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St. Paul’s suffering in Philippi becomes an opportunity to witness his faith in Jesus. This experience of the Cross of Christ brings life-giving joy, and it shows us the path that we often find in our own lives as well.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 6th Week of Easter
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Just as Moses intervened for the people of Israel when they turned away from God, Jesus – the Son of God – intervenes for our sinfulness by his saving action on the Cross.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 4th Week of Lent
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The passage of Genesis about Joseph and the parable of the vineyard in the Gospel of Matthew both foreshadow the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent
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The Lord’s invitation to “Take up your cross” challenges us to see the struggles we face as a participation in the saving work of Christ. As we embrace our crosses may we also trust in God’s grace for the strength we need.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 6th Week of the Year
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We find in today’s gospel passage the stark evil surrounding the death of John the Baptist. All the elements in this passage are evil, driven by pride, hatred and jealousy. Our response? The Cross of Christ.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 4th Week of the Year
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The Lord makes it clear that unless we take up our Cross we cannot be his disciples. Christ – who was victorious over his Cross – will give us the grace we need to face our own.
Mass Readings – 23rd Sunday of the Year
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Study: Reflect on a truly difficult time in your life. Where did you find the strength to continue?
Pray: Is there a challenging situation in your life right now? Ask the Lord for grace and wisdom.
Serve: How can you help someone in a tight spot today? How can you help them carry their cross?
Mass Readings – 23rd Sunday of the Year
There is a sobering element in the readings this week that focuses on the cost of discipleship. We commonly speak of “carrying the Cross” as a way of understanding how our sacrifices and burdens become transformed when we participate in the Cross of Christ.
The first reading from the book of Wisdom reminds us that our mortal natures cannot fathom the breadth and depth of God’s plan. We rely on the Lord, and we trust that through the power of the Holy Spirit God reveals the path of our lives – and provides us with the strength for the journey.
The psalm response “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge” helps us understand that when times get tough we turn to Jesus. He is the source of our strength, and with his grace we find a safe place from which we can prepare our hearts for the demands of the day.
Paul’s letter to Philemon touches upon our human weakness. Paul, imprisoned for his faith, is sending back a runaway slave (Onesimus) to his master – urging Philemon to accept his former servant with kindness as a brother in the Lord. Paul, Onesimus, and Philemon must all trust in the Lord for the strength to do what is right, even when it is difficult.
Finally, the Gospel speaks bluntly about the cost of discipleship. The price might be our family, our relationships, our possessions…yet through it all the Lord affirms that his grace empowers us to carry our Cross. For indeed, we all have crosses, and we can face them with hope – knowing that the Lord, who carried his Cross, will help us with our own.
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Note: This post was first published on August 29, 2019.
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