Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" 

Introductory Prayer: Jesus, you constantly invite me to personal conversion and to know you better as my Savior and ever-faithful Friend. I renew my decision to be your true follower. Renew your faith in Christ, your hope in him and your love for him. 

Petition: Lord, help me to see the beauty of your plan for all humanity and for myself in particular. Teach me to recognize your divine inspirations and to accept what you invite me to do. Give me the courage to follow you, for I want to be your disciple and apostle: I want to be generous! 

1.  Real God-Given Happiness.  Today it seems everyone has for sale the ultimate recipe for happiness, peddling their sure­fire prescriptions to those who suffer from "lack of fulfillment" or whatever. At best they provide temporary solace, at worst the results are catastrophic: the breakdown of the human person, the denial of the spirit, the enthronement of narcissism, the pursuit of pleasure for pleasure's sake. What is striking about Jesus' "recipe" for happiness is it starts not with seeking satisfaction, but with self-denial; not with slavery to our immediate desires but their mastery. Jesus has a plan for you and for your life, he places you at a crossroads. Will you take Christ's way, or the world's? This involves struggle. 

2.  Real Poverty.  Does this comfortable living, attached to the material things of life lead to deep personal happiness, happiness at home and social happiness? Apparently not. On the contrary, this "happiness" dulls our ability to live life fully. Instead of meeting the challenges each day brings with purpose and effort, most take each day as it comes.  

Mother Theresa, in an interview with Time Magazine (December 4, 1989) expressed the same conclusion in different words. When asked what she thought of the rich, she answered: "I find them very poor: sometimes they have great interior loneliness because they do not find satisfaction in anything. They are always looking for more." Their poverty points to a sure reality - the absence of God. 

When God is absent there can be no happiness. He is the only source of interior joy to which every human being aspires. 

3.  Real Christianity.  Unlike evil, which needs to deceive and dazzle, truth does not. It says that the straight and narrow way demands effort. Jesus is forthright: "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself..." But he also speaks of the prize and satisfaction that will result: "...he will receive a hundred times over, and Eternal Life." 

"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your sorrow will become joy." (Jn 16:20) 

People say with a tinge of fatalism: "Anything tasty is either sinful or fattening!" Under the surface, many people must be disgruntled with life. For someone who truly believes his faith is not the "spoil­sport" of life. To look only at the cross is to only see the roots without ever lifting your eyes to look at the delicious fruit that the roots produce. All we see is dirt and mud. Our faith is not complete until we enjoy the fruits, until the joy of their possession is the tonic of our lives. Are you happy when you shirk responsibilities? At the end of earthly pleasures comes boredom. At the end of every sacrifice we find satisfaction. 

4. Real Decision to Change.  St. Ignatius was once trying to convert a sinner, but the man kept on saying, "I can't. I want to, but I just can't." No matter what Ignatius said the man stubbornly refused to even admit the possibility that he could change. At last Ignatius seemed to drop the subject and turn his attention to something else. "Help me move this table to the corner, will you?" No doubt thankful to be out of the line of fire, the man willingly offered his assistance, stooping to lift his end. He started out for the corner, but couldn't since Ignatius was heading to a different corner. "Come on, Father, we'll never get the table over here if you don't cooperate!" Ignatius jumped in: "And you'll never convert either if you keep chanting 'I can't, I can't'. God is trying to reach you now, he is giving you all the means to begin again, and you are pulling against him with your hard­headedness." The key to success in your spiritual life is to cooperate with God's grace that can do all things, despite even our human weakness. 

Conversation: Thank you, Lord, for giving meaning to my life and my struggles. You have taught me by your example that the Cross is the way to life. Grant me the light to better understand this great mystery, and strength to follow you day in and day out, no matter the price. I ask you this through the prayers of Mary, my Mother and yours. Amen. 

Questionnaire

1. Do I have a positive view of sacrifice? Do I try to avoid it at all costs?  

2. How would I rate myself as regards my ability to sacrifice now for a future good?

3. When I make decisions about my life and future, could I say I am a Christian in the way I think about, plan and measure success? Or on the contrary is there no difference between me and someone who doesn't have the faith?