Take up your cross?

This morning's homily at Epiphany reviewed the Transfiguration. It got me thinking about what Our Lord really expects from us. When He was asked that question, He said that we were to Love God with all our heart, strength and mind, and our neighbor as our self. But he also said if we were to follow Him, we had to take up our cross.

The cross He carried he died on. So, I believe His commandment is plainly that we are to die for Him. Nothing less. The dying He intends is dying to self, first and foremost. But not that alone. When we are born of the Spirit, we are new creatures. We come to know that we are His and, over time if not immediately, we grow to know what He created us to do. That is our cross. Once we know, we are to pursue His path for us, not our own, we become slaves to His purpose. We follow Him and serve Him only. In doing so, He will take care of our needs. He reminds us that He takes care of the birds and the grass, and will take care of us as well. A slave depends on his master for everything. And, a good slavemaster provides.

This is our task. We must only and always serve Him. We have been called to a simple life of sacrifice. It involves taking up our cross, on which we will die, and it leads to Resurrection and eternal life.

Sweet.