In today’s gospel Jesus is brutally honest with the crowds, warning them that following him is no easy option:
“If anyone comes to me without hating their father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and their own life too, they cannot be my disciple. Those who do not carry their cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
Stark as his words are, they are not intended to discourage us from following. Rather, he offers a realistic view of what we face if we choose discipleship. Jesus is making it clear that following him will not help us to avoid the suffering of life. On the contrary us he calls us to accept that suffering willingly. He invites us to refuse to give into the temptations of avoidance and grumbling, which can be so soul destroying.
We can understand this call to let go, painful as it is, when it relates to things that might be bad for us. But Jesus makes it clear that the call of discipleship might also lead us away from situations that are good and living giving as well as ones that aren’t. Accepting that is a much greater challenge. Jesus wants followers who are fully aware of the challenging path they have chosen.
This challenge can seem intolerable. It is made possible only by the accompanying promise. He assures us that whatever sufferings we face in life he will be there with us, a compassionate, loving presence in even the darkest of times. While neither the hope nor the promise will remove the sufferings, they offer a framework to encourage us to face them.
How is Christ supporting you in your suffering today?