Weekly Newsletter

Glory to Jesus Christ!

In Mark 8:34-9:1, Jesus addresses a crowd and his disciples, teaching them about the cost of following him. He says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it."

Jesus delivers a pivotal message that goes beyond mere discipleship. He imparts profound wisdom by emphasizing the significance of self-denial and taking up one's cross in order to faithfully follow him. He explains that prioritizing worldly desires and self-preservation over his teachings will ultimately lead to spiritual loss.

On the other hand, surrendering one's life for the sake of Jesus and his message will result in salvation. He states, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

This call to self-denial is not a request for us to abandon our individuality or suppress our desires, but rather an invitation to surrender our selfish ambitions and align our lives with God's will. By taking up our cross, Jesus challenges us to embrace the difficulties and sacrifices that come with being his disciples. It symbolizes our willingness to endure hardships, persecution, and even death for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus reminds us that the path of discipleship may not always be comfortable or easy, but it leads to eternal life and a deepening relationship with God.