HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE

Mark 8:34 - "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me".
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Isn't it hard?  Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.  But in the first place, do you really know what it means?

Deny yourself.  Humbling yourself.  Yes, you need to spend some time to yourself, but not everytime.  You need to also deny your selfishness and look also at the needs of others.  You need to deny that fact that you are great, and humble yourself, be with others in their needs and accept the will of God in your life.  Deny yourself - living without sin and not in it, through constant communication with God and showing compassion to others.

Take up your cross.  Being obedient to the end.  God will not give you a cross that you cannot carry.  His Son has already carried a big chunk of that already.  But as you carry your cross, do not give up.  God's blessings does not only comes through good things, it also entails sacrifice and sufferings so we may get back to our own self ad stop us from entering sin and entertaining temptation.

Deny yourself, take up your cross.  Humility and obedience.  Two central virtues that is very important in our life with the Lord.  Two central virtues shown by the Saints and the Prophets.  Two central virtues as shown by the Blessed Virgin Mary, so we may experience the love of God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Come, follow Him.  It may not be easy, but when you understood what it means of following Him, then it will come easy, for that is our true nature - to be humble and obedient, no matter what.

+ Let us pray:  Lord Jesus, let me follow You.  Let me deny myself and renounce selfishness by being humble in helping others through You.  Let me carry my cross and be obedient to Your will to the end, as You have been obedient to Your Father by carrying Your own cross so we may be saved.  It would really be hard to do, but through constant prayers and by Your loving mercy, it will come easy following You, as we become humble and obedient to the end.  Amen +