Sometimes, following Jesus feels easy. We find comfort in prayer, joy in helping others, and peace in knowing that God walks with us. But what happens when following Jesus asks us to give up something we love, make a difficult choice, or carry a cross we never expected? In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to look beyond the excitement of following him and ask ourselves what we are truly willing to give.
The first shift in the Gospel is from wanting to follow Jesus to willing to carry the cross. Jesus speaks strongly about putting him before even our closest relationships. He is not asking us to stop loving our families. Rather, he asks us to love in a way that puts God at the center. Sometimes, this means forgiving someone when we would rather remain angry, staying faithful when a relationship becomes difficult, or doing what is right even when nobody notices.
The second shift is from acting on impulse to counting the cost. Jesus speaks of a person building a tower and a king preparing for battle. Both must pause and think before making a decision. Discernment does not mean having every answer beforehand. It means being honest about what lies ahead and asking God for the courage to take the next step.
The third shift is from holding to what we have to trusting what God can do. Jesus asks his disciples to renounce their possessions. Perhaps the greatest challenge is not what we own but what owns us: our need for recognition, our fear of failure, our desire to know and control everything, or our attachment to comfort. Each of us is invited to ask what we cling to so tightly that we have little room left for God and others.
Let us ask ourselves:
- What is the cross I am carrying in my life right now, and how might Jesus be inviting me to carry it with greater love and patience?
- Is there a decision I am rushing into, avoiding, or struggling with that calls for more prayer and honest discernment?
- What am I holding on to—comfort, recognition, resentment, or control—that might be keeping me from following Jesus more freely in my relationships and daily work?
Rev. Rashmi Fernando, SJ
I am a Jesuit priest and educator from the island nation of Sri Lanka, historically known as Serendib or Ceylon. I have been blessed to receive Jesuit formation and higher education across Asia, Europe, and America. Most recently, I earned my Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership in Education (Ed.D.) from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, where my dissertation explored global citizenship through the lens of undergraduates’ study-abroad experiences. Deeply convinced of the power of positive narratives that education can create, I believe it holds the key to addressing the ‘care-crises’ that weigh upon humanity and our shared ‘common home,’ while also emancipating individuals and communities. In addition to serving as an online faculty member with Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL)—Jesuit Higher Education in the Margins— to students in Africa and the Middle East, I am currently assigned to Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Determined to make a distinctive, active, and intellectually grounded contribution through Jesuit higher education, I am deeply passionate about reading, writing, and teaching on global citizenship, interdisciplinary leadership, and justice and peacebuilding. In this spirit, I hold close the words of Helen Steiner Rice: “Life is a fabric, weave it with tender care; Upon the loom of life, your pattern is rare.” While I cherish the uniqueness that defines my own life and journey, I am equally committed and eager to recognizing, celebrating, and defending the uniqueness of others—believing that true beauty is revealed where there is unity in diversity, and diversity in unity.
Keep smiling—because God loves you always! I mean, ALWAYS!
