Word from the Pastor

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” — Matthew 16:24
Life has conditions. We need food, water, and air to live. We accept these needs because they are essential to our existence. In the same way, Jesus places before us three conditions for Christian discipleship: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him.

First, deny yourself. This does not mean rejecting who we are. It means refusing to make ourselves the center of everything. God must be our starting point. We are called to surrender our pride, selfishness, and personal desires and say, “Lord, not my will, but Yours be done.”

Second, take up your cross. Every life has crosses - suffering, disappointment, sacrifice, illness, loss, and difficult moments. We cannot always avoid the cross, but we can choose how we carry it. When we carry our cross with Christ, our suffering can become a place of grace and transformation. Jesus does not promise a life without crosses; He promises to walk with us.

Third, follow Jesus. Following Christ means more than believing in Him. It means living according to His Word and obeying His command to love God and love our neighbor. It means forgiving, serving, giving, praying, and caring for those who are suffering.

Many of us are grateful that Jesus carried the cross for us, but discipleship also asks us to carry our own cross. If we do not care for the hungry, the homeless, the lonely, and those who are suffering, who will? If we do not share Christ's love with the world, who will?

Today, Jesus asks each of us: Am I willing to deny myself? Am I willing to take up my cross? Am I willing to follow Him?

The conditions are demanding, but we do not walk alone. The Jesus who calls us also gives us the grace and strength to follow Him.

Rev. Fritzner J. Bellonce
Pastor