Penance, abstinence, fast, almsgiving, self-denial, obedience, detachment, offering, sacrifice, and so on.
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
Why do we do all those? Why does Jesus ask us to bear our daily cross?
Do we practice all those because we are good people? Or do we take up our daily cross because we want to develop our better selves? Or just because we are Catholic?
Our faith has a specific goal and purpose. We do not practice faith and sacrifice because we are better people than others or because our faith is a custom and heritage. We walk the narrow path to enter eternal life with Christ Jesus. “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.”
Do we think about this life eternal every day? Do we renew our vision of this eternal happiness with Christ Jesus every day? Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily and follow him. Jesus does not want to distress us every day with pain and suffering. What he wants is to clear our vision of eternal happiness daily. Jesus wants our daily cross to feel easier and lighter. That is what he means by “My yoke is easy and my burden, light.”
Too often, we go to bed with all sorts of worldly cares and worries. That is why we feel our life is burdensome. Even if we pray, fast, give alms, unless we have a clear vision of our goal, our faith journey gets easily lost. How often do I meditate on heaven and eternal life with Jesus? Only those who see their destinations arrive at them.
