Sacred Heart Catholic Church issued the following announcement on Aug. 30

Jesus, unlike most of the world famous and renowned leaders, did not make empty promises or embellished the truth. Jesus in today’s gospel said something to his disciples that humanly speaking makes absolutely no sense and not attractive at all. He said to them: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”. With statement like this no wonder why Jesus had so few friends.

My brothers and sisters as the first disciples, we receive from the Lord Jesus the same invitation to deny ourselves, take up our crosses each day, small or big, and follow after him. Each one of us has our own crosses: sickness, addiction, unemployment, loneliness, divorce, separation to name a few. Jesus did not come into the world to eliminate our pain and suffering but to redeem us from sin and eternal damnation. Therefore, if we carry our daily crosses with faith and courage they can bring us closer to the Lord.

Original source can be found here.