Saturday, July 5 (June 22), 2025
Rom. 6:11-17; Mt. 8:14-23                               

The Lord said to one of those who wanted to follow Him: “The Son of man hath not where to lay His head” [Mt. 8:20], and to another one who wanted first to bury his father: “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead” [Mt. 8:22].  It means that if you want to follow the Lord, you should expect from that no comfort on earth, but only hardship and sorrows: earthly cares, even the legitimate ones, are in fact incompatible with following Him.

We ought to renounce everything, sincerely and decisively, to cut any attachments to earth, then commit ourselves to suffering ─ that is, to our cross, ─ and thus equipped, follow the Lord.  Such is His will, clearly expressed!  But who is it addressed to ─ to the Apostles only, or to all Christians?  Please figure it out.  “Deny yourself, take up thy cross and follow Me”  [Mt. 16:24] ─ has it been said to everyone?  To love the Lord more than your father and mother, your brothers and sisters, your wife and children  [Mt. 19:29] ─ has it been said to everyone?  The conclusion is clear.

Is that possible?...  Once the Apostles also asked this question, and the Lord answered them:  “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God” [Lk. 18:27].

Read more about the author