If we have spent the time perusing today's Gospel we notice that Jesus is speaking very clearly today. Jesus says, “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” He is making it clear that you cannot truly be a disciple unless you are willing to make sacrifices for what you believe in. For each of us, the sacrifice is going to be different — for some it will be a sacrifice of time and energy, while for others it will be the giving up of a habit, a hobby or a particular career path. The only common denominator is a willingness to lay down our lives, as Jesus did.
