Is Christian Life Easy?

At Mass today, I couldn’t help but ponder a question the priest raised in his homily: “Is it easy to be a Christian?” While walking my infant son around the narthex, his question permeated my conscience as it should do the same for all of us.

It is easy to say that it’s not easy being a Christian, let alone Catholic today. Every Catholic has an excuse to give up on striving for holiness with what the world is bombarding us. Yet, Christ calls us to deny everything of this world and have him transform us into what we are called to be.

Like many of you, I do fall. I neglect to pray at times. I forget to do something that was needed, or I can be easily distracted by the doomscroll. Even then, I look at a cross and know that my goal is to be with Christ, not the world. While I am doing that, I must lead others to him.

In today’s gospel, Jesus foretells his apostles about what is to come. He even raised a challenging question that we all must ponder daily. “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?” (Matthew 16: 26-27). The answer is how we are willing to take up the cross daily or not. This is how we embrace our calling as Catholics.

Every day we have a choice to make: to take up the cross or not. We can choose God and let him move the world with our faithful witness or choose the world while losing our souls.

Indeed, being Catholic today is challenging, yet it is worth it. Our Catholic faith is worth fighting for. Taking up the cross is worth it.

Take up the cross and follow Christ. It is a worthwhile journey.