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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.” Matthew 16:24–25
Today’s Gospel begins with a triple command that forms the
foundation of authentic Christian living: We must deny
ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus.
Let us consider the implications of these commands.
First, it is important to note that Jesus uses the word “must.”
This is more than an invitation—it is a divine law, given for our
eternal good. The Greek word for “must” is “dei,” a term
that carries the connotation of necessity, obligation, and divine
appointment. It is frequently used in Scripture to express what is
required by God’s saving plan. More than a suggestion or an ideal
for devout souls, it is an absolute necessity for all who wish to
follow Christ.
Jesus never asks anything of us that He Himself has not already
done. Just prior to today’s Gospel, Jesus declared that “the Son of
Man must suffer greatly” (Matthew 16:21)—and He did. In the same
way, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow
Him. This is the narrow path that leads to life, the only path that
conforms us to Christ and brings us to the glory of His
Resurrection. To ignore this necessity is to reject the path of
true discipleship.
Denying ourselves is, first and foremost, a renunciation of
self-centeredness. We must get out of the way so that Christ
may reign in us. This means placing God’s will above our
preferences, ambitions, and desires. Such self-denial is not an end
in itself but is a necessary clearing of the soul, making room for
divine love to govern our lives. In Heaven, this purification will
be complete, making it easy to choose God’s will alone. But during
our earthly pilgrimage, we face a continual interior battle in
which we must repeatedly renounce all that is not of God’s
will.
Today, Christians rightly venerate the Cross as a sacred image of
our salvation. However, in Jesus’ time, the cross was seen only as
a brutal Roman instrument of execution—an image of excruciating
suffering and utter humiliation. To take up our cross, therefore,
is to embrace what naturally repels us, what evokes fear, and what
requires courage, sacrifice, and surrender. This embrace also
demands supernatural trust. Only God can bring forth good from such
suffering. When we understand this and entrust ourselves to Him, we
are able to accept—without rebellion—all that He permits:
sufferings, trials, sacrifices, and even death itself, uniting
these with the redemptive suffering of Christ.
Of the three “musts,” following Jesus might seem the
easiest, at least on the surface. Yet true discipleship goes far
deeper than simply walking behind Him, being kind, and enjoying
life. To follow Christ is to walk in Him, allowing our lives
to be conformed to His. It is a lifelong journey of
transformation—a participation in His life, death, and
resurrection. It requires the daily decision to walk the narrow
path of fidelity, humility, and love.
Because this triple command is challenging, Jesus offers a divine
paradox to help: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” This offers
immediate hope in the face of following Jesus’ commands. He further
softens the challenge by asking, “What profit would there be for
one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” The “world” and
all its enticements cannot compare to the glory achieved by the
sacrificial life to which we are called.
Reflect today on Jesus lovingly telling you what you must do
to inherit eternal life. Once we understand the reward, the means
become much easier to accept. Deny yourself, take up your cross,
and follow Jesus. Do it today and every day of your life and you
will find your life alive and glorified in Christ for all
eternity.
My selfless and sacrificial Lord, You not only commanded us to
deny ourselves and take up our crosses, You first walked that path
Yourself, enabling us to follow You as we live in union with You.
Free me from every fear of the Cross. Help me to see beyond the
immediate hardships it brings, to the glory that awaits those who
live a life of sacrifice with You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross, by Philipp
Schumacher
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