Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus: The Way of the True Disciple

by Deacon Juan Carlos Palomar  |  09/07/2025  |  From the Clergy

Today's Gospel tells us that a large crowd was traveling with Jesus, but turning to his disciples, he tells them what it means to follow him: "...turning to his disciples, he said... Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27).

If we consider ourselves disciples and not part of the crowd, these words of Jesus are for us, but what does it mean or understand by "taking up the cross and following Jesus?"

Jesus took up the cross that would lead him to his crucifixion and death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. It was not easy for Jesus to bear the weight of the cross, the pain, and the insults he received from the soldiers and the people. He endured all kinds of humiliation and contempt for you, for me, because he loves us.

Carrying the cross and following Jesus in our lives is sometimes not easy; it is a challenge. We face life's adversities, illness, and suffering; We leave family, father, mother... to follow Jesus. The Christian life is not exempt from suffering and difficulties.

Carrying the cross that God has given us is surrendering our lives in order to find a deeper life that connects us and brings us closer to God, following the example of Jesus when, carrying the cross, he knew he was headed straight to death, but that when he died, the RESURRECTION awaited him.

Carrying the cross is living in trust and with a firm faith that Jesus accompanies us and helps us in the most difficult moments of our lives. Jesus' invitation, then, is that if we want to be true disciples, we must take up the cross and follow him on the road to Golgotha.

Deacon Juan Carlos Palomar