Everyone will receive a prize proportional to their deeds

August 5. Friday  the 18th week in Ordinary Time
Daily readings:  Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7; Gospel Matthew 16:24-28 

Every difficulty we face as disciples of Jesus requires us to remain steadfast and vigilant in carrying the cross of daily life.

When we hear the word "cross," we typically think of challenges, burdens, or suffering. The cross always leads to a richer experience of the life Jesus has gained for us, despite its anguish.

But God himself desires that when we hear the term "cross," our first thought is "good news." God wants us to view the crucifixion as a method to abandon many difficulties in our lives, such as greed, wrong prejudice, pride, and arrogance.

Following Jesus is a difficult endeavor. It is challenging. We must be prepared to lose, get sick, and suffer. Jesus said that all who choose to follow Him must deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow Him.

Self-denial does not include denying oneself but rather God. It is essential and common for us to have grand ideas for our companies, careers, or even our futures. Occasionally, though, external factors ruin these plans. We can become despondent because we are the focus of everything. Sometimes, when we feel hopeless, we blame God for the circumstances of our lives.

To obtain redemption, we must endure many difficulties with love, just as Jesus did when He died on the cross to atone for our sins because of His tremendous love for us.

We must also continue to learn from Jesus how to live and merge with him to attain tremendous love.