Nah 2:1.3; 3:1-3.6-7; Psalm: Deut 32; Mt 16:24-28

Discipleship requires sacrificing our own desires

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that in order to follow Him, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. This passage emphasizes the idea that discipleship requires sacrificing our own desires for the sake of following Christ. It means surrendering our own will and submitting to God’s will in every aspect of our lives, even when it goes against our own desires and ambitions.

Sacrificing our own desires for the sake of discipleship requires humility and a willingness to give up control of our lives to God. It means trusting in Him completely and putting our faith in His plan for us, even when it may not align with our own desires or expectations. This level of surrender can be challenging, as it may require letting go of our own comforts, ambitions, or even relationships that stand in the way of fully following Christ.

Discipleship is about putting God’s will above our own and following Him wholeheartedly, even when it means sacrificing our own desires and aspirations. When we choose to surrender ourselves to God in this way, we are able to experience the true freedom and joy that comes from living a life devoted to Him. By denying ourselves and taking up our crosses, we can live out our faith in a way that glorifies God and brings us closer to Him in our journey of discipleship.