“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24).  

The major theme for this 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time focuses on the necessity of suffering and sacrifice in our lives as God’s plan for our salvation. God’s ways, thoughts, mind, and will are not ours. Therefore, to live an authentic and faithful life of Christian discipleship, we must accept our suffering and live in a different way from the sinful world.

We must accept, acquire the ways, thoughts, mind, and will of God as our own, embrace the demand of self-control (i.e. “must deny himself” – Matthew 16:24), the willingness to suffer for God’s sake (i.e. “to take up his cross” – Matthew 16:24), the generosity (i.e. “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice to God” – Romans 12:1), and to follow Jesus by obeying His commandment of love (i.e. “follow me” – Matthew 16:24). Such a struggle and suffering and eventual acquiescence to God’s will are inherent aspects of our spiritual growth and development of Christian discipleship, given by the wise counsel of the Church and guided by the prudent process of discernment.

The Eucharist is the highest sacrifice of the Church, which is the Body of Christ that participates in the offering of her Head. With Christ, the Church offers and unites with Christ’s intercession to the heavenly Father for all. The lives of the faithful, their praise, sufferings, prayer, and work, are united with those of Christ’s total offering, so acquiring a new value for the redemption of all (CCC #1368).

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to accept suffering and sacrifice as necessary components for our salvation, to follow Jesus Christ more closely, to repent our sins, to exercise our Christian stewardship, to use our time, treasure, and talents to love God above all, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, participating in the works of mercy, to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God.  

How can we help each other accept suffering and sacrifice in our lives as God’s plan for our salvation, be true lovers and disciples of Christ, surrender all to God, and offer our daily sacrifices that Christian faith demands?

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.