Sacrifice is a part of life. - It’s supposed to be.

“Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and so they give their lives to little or nothing. One life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it…and then it’s gone.

But to surrender who you are and to live without belief is more terrible than dying – even more terrible than dying young.” ― Joan of Arc (1412 –1431: was canonized as a Roman Catholic saint)

Gospel Text: (MT 16:24-28)

Jesus said to his disciples,

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world

and forfeit his life?

Or what can one give in exchange for his life?

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,

and then he will repay each according to his conduct.

Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here

who will not taste death

until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

We are often tempted to throw away our crosses and take the easy way out. So how then can we carry our crosses?  With the Lord's help and our willingness to walk in his footsteps. We must trust Jesus and believe that the cross is the best way to glorify God in our lives. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  We must believe that he has already conquered the world for us.  This gives us courage to do his will in our lives.