Take Up Your Cross Daily

   “When the days for Jesus being taken up were fulfilled, he was resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem." Luke 9:53

    What awaited Jesus in Jerusalem? In obedience to His Father’s Will, His eyes and heart were set on His destination-Jerusalem. What awaited Jesus in Jerusalem? --Suffering and death on a cross. But Jesus was resolutely determined to go to Jerusalem to suffer and die on the cross for each of us. Jesus knew what awaited Him but was unwavering, persistent and undaunted. He also knew that after experiencing horrendous suffering and death, resurrected glory awaited Him for you and for me.

   Am I resolutely determined to follow Jesus to the cross-no matter what? When the storms of life flood my soul with great anxiety, am I still resolutely determined to follow Jesus my Savior and my Lord?

  It is an easy statement to say – “I will follow Jesus every day of my life.” Easy to say; hard to do. What about the times when the world, the flesh and the devil get me down and I feel like I cannot go on another moment? When I feel like throwing in the towel and surrender to my own sinful tenancies and behaviors? It is then, I run to the arms of my merciful Lord and Savior and cry out: “Save me Lord for I am drowning in my doubt, fear and anxiety.”

   Jesus reaches out his hand and gently whispers—"I will show you the way to the Father. Come follow Me to the cross. Embrace your suffering so you too, can enter into the Father’s Heavenly Resurrected Glory. All the suffering you experience now will be wiped away and you will be surrounded by my glorious light.”

“The Lord heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; he set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps…. You are my help and my deliverer.”  Psalm 40

   What am I resolutely determined to do in order to follow Jesus with my whole, heart and soul? First of all, it’s not a one-time decision. It happens in the ordinary circumstances of my day-one moment, one hour, one day at a time. If I break down my unwavering decision to follow Jesus into bite size resolutions, then the undaunted task becomes manageable.

   For me it is good to make a list of things that I am resolutely determined to do this day. When I do, the day becomes manageable. The list might have to be readjusted depending on the circumstances of life’s happenings.  

   It’s the little things I do each day that helps me stay focused on my goal to follow my Savior this day.  I title my list: Suit up and Show up.  I do not always and more often do not complete my “To do list” because let’s face it “Life happens.” But the list gives me structure in my day.

Here is my daily list but feel free to make your own list that works for you. 

·       Surrender this day and all my concerns to Jesus.

·       Spend a little time in prayer and reading God’s word in the morning.

·       Pray the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet even in your car as you go here and there.

·       Suit up and show up for daily Mass if available.

·       Suit up and show up for adoration often.

·       Practice the quality of being a good listener to family and friends.

·       Smile. Be gentle and kind to everyone for they too are fighting a difficult battle.

·       Before going to bed, do an exam of conscience and prayer the night time short prayers.

·       Monthly Confession

·       Suit up and show up for my prayer group weekly.

   It is in the simple disciplined things I do each day that helps me stay close to Jesus. When I fail to follow through with my resolutions, I become irritable, restless and discontent. I unravel. When I receive my Eucharistic Jesus, I am refreshed, renewed and restored. I bath in His glorious light which fills me with His mercy and grace.

Jesus helps me to get back on track. I am once again resolutely determined to follow my Lord and my God. All is well with my soul. He is all merciful and never tires of forgiving me and loving me. Will I fail sometimes in my quest to follow Jesus?  Perhaps. But Jesus picks me up and whispers: “Continue on your journey with me.”

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23

Reflection:

What is stopping you in your life right now from being resolutely determined to follow Jesus?

Spend some time thinking about what you can do to help you grow closer to Jesus and His Church. It is in the simple little things we do that draws us closer to Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus is waiting for you. “One day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.” Psalm 84:10