The Cross: Our Path to True Greatness

Nah 2:1.3; 3:1-3.6-7, Psalm: Deut32, Mt 16:24-28

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The prophet Nahum delivers a warning to Nineveh, the great city of Assyria, that had oppressed Israel. He declares, “Destroyer, advance against Nineveh! Guard the rampart, watch the road, prepare for battle!” He describes the devastation that will come upon the city that has been “full of lies and plunder.” The Lord will restore the pride of Israel, and Nineveh, the oppressor, will fall into disgrace. The prophecy reminds us that no power, however great, can stand against the justice of God.

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks not of the destruction of a city, but of the cost of discipleship. He tells His disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” The cross is not a decoration; it is the instrument of death. To follow Jesus means to die to ourselves—to our pride, our comfort, our ambitions. It means to embrace the will of the Father, even when it leads to suffering. Jesus then asks, “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” The world offers us success, power, and pleasure—but these are fleeting. The only thing that truly matters is the salvation of our souls.

The connection between Nahum and the Gospel is the contrast between worldly power and eternal glory. Nineveh trusted in its own strength, its chariots, its armies. But its pride led to its destruction. The disciples are called to a different path: the path of humility, sacrifice, and trust in God. The cross is the way to glory. Those who lose their lives for the sake of Christ will find them.

Pope Francis has said, “The cross is not a piece of furniture to be displayed, but a way of life to be embraced.” Saint John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris, wrote, “Suffering is not a punishment; it is a sharing in the redemptive work of Christ.” And Saint Augustine, reflecting on the words of Jesus, said, “The cross is the throne of the King, and the way of the cross is the way of life.”

What does this mean for us? We live in a world that tells us to avoid suffering, to seek comfort, to pursue success at any cost. But Jesus calls us to a different path. He calls us to take up our cross—the daily challenges, the sacrifices, the moments when we choose love over convenience, truth over popularity, humility over pride. The cross is not a burden to be endured; it is a gift to be embraced, because it leads to the Resurrection.

This week, let us examine our lives. What “Nineveh” are we trusting in? What false security are we clinging to? Let us take up our cross and follow Christ. For the cross is the way to glory, and the one who loses his life for His sake will find it. Amen.

May God bless you all!

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