Take up your cross
Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’ (Matthew 16:24)

Peter is reprimanded
Peter found it difficult to accept that the mission of Jesus would end with the cross and crucifixion. He didn’t see why pain and suffering were necessary for discipleship, and was anxious that the Lord avoid this course of action. He was outraged at the idea that such happenings should take place.

Like most of us, Peter failed to grasp the role of suffering in God’s plan. He thought that being part of the kingdom was a matter of power and success. Words were powerless to rid him of the idea of a Messiah of earthly splendour and glory. Peter had yet to learn that the standards of Christ were not those of prosperity and privilege.

The outcome was a reprimand from Jesus, who cautioned him against adopting the standards of the world, ‘for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things’.

The gospel ends with a challenge from Jesus to welcome hardship and embrace pain and personal suffering, for to hold on to this life is to lose eternal life and everlasting values.

Suffering is a reality of human life
In the grand scheme of things we’ll face a whole series of tests. The road is never a straight one and suffering is a reality of human life. Our earthly pilgrimage is so beset with trials and tribulations that it’s sometimes aptly named a ‘valley of tears’. We’ve all experienced our share of hardship in the form of sickness, loss of job, or death in the family.

Down the ages the problem of pain has been the debating ground of so much human thought, and the torment of so many noble souls.

When things go wrong and affliction comes our way, we cry out and protest in bitter rebellion. It’s a natural tendency to turn our back’s on trouble; but running away from pain can never bring joy, for to hide from it, is to pretend that it doesn’t exist.

A demanding honour
Being a Christian is a demanding honour, because God’s way of doing things is contrary to human expectations. In the gospel, Christ tells us plainly that discipleship involves denying ourselves, taking up the cross in trust and confidence, and following his footsteps across the hill to Calvary.

It’s a hard teaching, but the measure of greatness in the kingdom of heaven is the standard of the cross.

Our commitment to Christ
This is an occasion to reflect on our own commitment to Christ, because it’s easy to lose sight of our final goal in life.

Our hearts are tempted to seek comfort in material things, and to avoid hardship.

And yet, we don’t want to be like some church-goers, who think only of themselves and reluctantly give God an hour on a Sunday morning. But if they were asked to identify themselves, they would profess to be Christian.

We all need to remember, especially when times are at their hardest, that being a Christian is for life, not just for Sundays.

King Arthur and the witch

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighbouring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur’s youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death.

The question?….What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch’s proposition to have an answer by year’s end.

He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged.

The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur’s closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life.

He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur’s life and the preservation of the Round Table.

Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur’s question thus: What a woman really wants, she answered….is to be in charge of her own life! Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur’s life would be spared. And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding.

The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened

The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day…or night?

Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments?

Noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life.