Ordinary Time 24

In the Gospel this weekend Jesus tells the crowd and his disciples that if they want to follow him, they must deny themselves and take up the cross.  In the early days of the Church, when the first believers were persecuted, cast out of the synagogues, and martyred for their faith, these words of Jesus had a very concrete meaning.  For many early Christians, accepting the cross meant suffering and death.  But what can it mean for us in the world today?  What is the hardest part about being a Christian in today's world for you?  That is the cross to embrace.