Episode 2946: The Call to Sacrifice Taking Up Our Cross - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”
The Call to Sacrifice: Taking Up Our Cross
we seek to deepen our love for Christ and conform our lives to His divine will.
In today’s episode, we will reflect on the call to discipleship one that requires self-denial, sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to follow Christ. Our Lord Himself gives us a direct command in the Gospel of Matthew:
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and 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)
This is the essence of Christian life: to follow Christ means to embrace the Cross. There is no middle ground. The way of comfort and self-preservation leads to spiritual ruin, but the way of sacrifice leads to eternal life.
Fr. Josemaría Escrivá, devoted to sanctifying ordinary life, echoes this truth:
“I don't understand how you can call yourself a Christian and lead such an idle, useless life. Have you forgotten Christ's life of toil?”
This episode will challenge us to reflect on whether we are truly carrying our cross, or whether we have sought the path of ease rather than holiness.
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The Call to Self-Denial
Our fallen nature inclines us toward comfort. We often seek an easy Christianity one that demands little from us yet promises everything. But Christ makes it clear:
“He must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Denying ourselves does not mean rejecting the good things in life, but rather submitting our will to God’s will. It means:
• Resisting sinful inclinations even when they seem harmless.
• Embracing suffering as a means of purification.
• Renouncing attachments that keep us from God.
The saints understood this well. St. Francis of Assisi, once a wealthy young man, abandoned everything to follow Christ in radical poverty. St. Therese of Lisieux offered every small suffering for the love of God. Their lives were marked by self-denial, yet they were filled with divine joy.
The modern world rejects this message. It tells us to seek comfort, pleasure, and self-fulfillment. But true fulfillment is only found in sacrifice. When we lose ourselves in Christ, we find who we were truly meant to be.
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The Christian Life is a Life of Toil
Fr. Josemaría Escrivá reminds us that Christianity is not passive; it is a call to action. Christ’s life was one of labor—He worked as a carpenter, He walked miles to preach, He tirelessly healed the sick, and ultimately, He carried the Cross to Calvary.
“I don't understand how you can call yourself a Christian and lead such an idle, useless life. Have you forgotten Christ's life of toil?”
Too often, we think holiness is reserved for priests and religious. But every Christian, regardless of their state in life, is called to toil for the Kingdom of God.
• A mother tirelessly raising her children in the faith.
• A father working honorably to provide for his family.
• A student striving for virtue in a world of distraction.
• A worker offering daily tasks as a sacrifice to God.
The question is not if we will work, but who we are working for ourselves, or Christ?
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What Does It Mean to “Lose Your Life” for Christ?
Christ tells us that whoever loses his life for His sake will find it. This does not always mean physical martyrdom though many saints have shed their blood for Him but it does mean dying to self daily.
• Saying no to sinful habits.
• Prioritizing prayer over distractions.
• Serving others without seeking recognition.
• Accepting suffering without complaint.
This is the paradox of the Gospel: the more we surrender, the freer we become. Those who live for themselves are never satisfied, always seeking fulfillment in things that perish. But those who live for Christ experience true joy, even in suffering.
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A Call to Action: Are We Carrying Our Cross?
As we close, let us ask ourselves:
• Do I seek ease over holiness?
• Have I embraced my daily crosses with trust in God?
• Do I labor for Christ or for my own comfort?
Being a Christian is not about comfort, but commitment. It is not about avoiding pain, but embracing sacrifice for love of God. The Cross is not a punishment it is the means by which we are sanctified.
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Closing Prayer
Let us turn to Christ, asking for the strength to take up our cross daily.
Heavenly Father,
You have called us to follow Your Son on the path of sacrifice. Grant us the grace to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him without hesitation.
Lord Jesus,
You labored, suffered, and died for our salvation. Teach us to imitate Your example, embracing toil and sacrifice with love, so that we may find true life in You.
Holy Spirit,
Strengthen our resolve. May we never seek an idle or useless life, but rather one filled with labor for Your glory. Make our daily work, our struggles, and our suffering a pleasing offering to God.
Through the intercession of Our Lady and all the saints, may we never fear the cross, but embrace it with joy, knowing that through it, we are united with Christ.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Good night, and may the Lord grant you the strength to carry your cross with love.