24th Sunday – Is 50:5-9a; Ps 116; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35
Jesus Takes the Cross
When the cross cannot be avoided without denying Christ, it must be accepted
Is the path of a Christian necessarily connected with suffering? No. And we should be far from glorifying suffering, as if it were not the result of sin and as if it were not in God’s plans to eliminate it. The various healings that Jesus performed are clear proof of this. However, the truth is that a Christian should not run away from the cross that faithfulness to God brings; he cannot betray God for the sake of a prosperous and comfortable life. He cannot deny Him.
This is precisely what Jesus tells His disciples when Peter tries to convince Him that no harm from people will befall Him. He knew that one day the anger of His enemies would be so great that they would decide to kill Him. And before that, torment Him so that His suffering would be as great as possible. He knew, He knew the future, but He did nothing to prevent it. He accepted the cross, which is faithfulness to God. Faithfulness even to death. . .
This is also the path that we should walk. Illness comes? We need treatment. A situation will come when we have to confess our faith in Christ or act as He commanded, even though it will cost us a lot? We must not retreat from such suffering, from this cross. ” If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me,” says Jesus. ” For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”