November 8, 2017 Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time-A

Romans 13:8-10

Psalm 112

Luke 14:25-33

 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”  Lk 14:27

Lord, these words must have surprised and maybe stunned those in the crowd who were with you that day.  What did the feared Roman cross have to do with being your disciple?  This hideous instrument of torture and death was meant to control a population of subjects.  You didn’t sugar-coat the cost of following you.  They now knew what they were signing up for if they wanted to be your disciple.  How does the cross enter into my life now?  Lord, what cross have I to carry?  When given my cross will I have the conviction, the strength and the willingness to carry it?  Lord, I’m going to admit it to you right now I can’t do it on my own.  I too often seek the easy way, the way that doesn’t inconvenience me, the way that lets me have things how I want them.   But you know that already.  Dear Jesus, I am not a finished product so I surrender to you.  I plead for your grace to give me a backbone to make the hard decisions.  Thank you for all the ways you will encourage me today.  Amen.