Embracing Our Cross: A Call to Transformation

The readings this weekend invite a deep reflection on the way we see and approach our lives, especially in light of Christ’s call to take up our cross and follow Him. Each of us is entrusted with unique responsibilities, challenges, and crosses, and these are not generic—they are personal and particular to our own journey and salvation, as well as the salvation of those around us. The Gospel’s call is not just about enduring hardship, but about embracing the path Christ sets before us, trusting that it is through these crosses that we are drawn closer to Him.

The second reading, from Paul’s letter to Philemon, offers a powerful example of how the Gospel transforms relationships and mindsets. Onesimus, once a slave, encounters Christ and is sent back to his former master, not as property, but as a brother. Paul’s appeal to Philemon is radical: he asks him to see Onesimus not through the lens of social hierarchy or economic status, but through the eyes of Christ. This is a call to a complete shift in perspective, to recognize the dignity and worth of every person, and to reorder our relationships according to the Gospel.

At the heart of these readings is the invitation to conversion—a change in mindset and heart. Jesus’ strong language about “hating” father and mother is not a call to literal hatred, but a challenge to put all things in their proper order, with God at the center. If anything else—possessions, relationships, ambitions—takes precedence over Christ, we lose sight of our ultimate goal: eternal life with Him. The challenge is to continually ask ourselves what or who is most important in our lives, and to pray for the grace to put Christ first in all things.

This reordering is not just a one-time decision, but a daily turning toward Christ in the way we relate, learn, love, and serve. It is a call to see every person and every circumstance through the lens of the Gospel, to allow Christ to transform our vision, and to seek above all else the salvation He offers.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The cross each of us is called to carry is deeply personal and unique. It is not a generic burden, but one that is intimately tied to our own life circumstances, relationships, and the particular ways God is working out our salvation. Embracing our cross means trusting that God is present in the specifics of our journey, inviting us to follow Him even when the path is difficult. [00:48]
• 2. Paul’s letter to Philemon reveals the radical nature of Christian conversion: it transforms not only individuals, but also the way we see and relate to others. The Gospel calls us to move beyond social and economic hierarchies, to recognize every person as a brother or sister in Christ, and to let this new vision shape our actions and relationships. [02:37]
• 3. True discipleship requires a continual reordering of our priorities. Jesus’ challenging words about “hating” even our closest relationships are a call to put God first, ensuring that nothing—no possession, ambition, or relationship—takes precedence over our relationship with Him. This is the foundation for a life that is truly successful in God’s eyes. [03:10]
• 4. Conversion is not just a change of mind, but a transformation of heart and vision. The invitation is to see ourselves, others, and the world through Christ’s eyes, allowing His love and truth to reshape our approach to every aspect of life. This ongoing conversion is the work of grace, and it requires openness, humility, and prayer. [04:15]
• 5. The ultimate goal of life is to reach heaven, and everything else must be ordered toward that end. When we put Christ at the center, our relationships, work, and daily choices find their proper place, and we are freed to love and serve more fully. This is the path to true fulfillment and lasting joy. [03:45]
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:15] - Introduction to the Annual Diocesan Appeal
• [00:35] - Overview of the Scripture Readings
• [00:48] - The Personal Nature of the Cross
• [01:20] - Onesimus and the Story of Conversion
• [01:55] - Paul’s Radical Appeal to Philemon
• [02:37] - The Call to a New Mindset
• [03:10] - Reordering Our Priorities
• [03:45] - The Goal: Getting to Heaven
• [04:00] - Praying for Right Order in Life
• [04:15] - Turning Toward Christ in Daily Living

Bible Reading

Luke 14:25-33 (ESV) — > Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Philemon 1:8-16 (ESV) — > Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Observation Questions

1. In Luke 14, what does Jesus say is required of someone who wants to be His disciple? What kind of language does He use to describe the cost?
2. According to the sermon, what is unique about the cross each person is called to carry? [00:48]
3. In Paul’s letter to Philemon, how does Paul ask Philemon to view Onesimus differently than before? [02:37]
4. What does the sermon say about the order of priorities in a Christian’s life? [03:10]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus uses such strong language about “hating” family and even one’s own life in Luke 14? What is He trying to communicate about discipleship?
2. The sermon says the cross is “personal and particular” for each of us. How might this change the way someone views their own struggles or challenges? [00:48]
3. Paul asks Philemon to see Onesimus “no longer as a slave but as a brother.” What does this reveal about how the Gospel changes relationships and social structures? [02:37]
4. The sermon talks about “reordering” our lives with God at the center. What are some signs that someone’s life is out of order, according to the message? [03:10]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says each of us has a unique cross to carry. What is one specific challenge or responsibility in your life right now that you sense God is asking you to embrace, rather than avoid? How might you approach it differently this week? [00:48]
2. Paul’s appeal to Philemon was to see Onesimus as a brother, not as property. Is there someone in your life you need to see differently—maybe with more dignity or compassion? What would it look like to treat them as Christ would? [02:37]
3. Jesus says we must put Him before even our closest relationships and possessions. Is there something or someone in your life that tends to take first place over Christ? What practical step could you take to put God first this week? [03:10]
4. The sermon challenges us to ask, “Who or what is most important in my life?” Take a moment to honestly reflect: what would your calendar, spending, or conversations say is most important to you? [03:10]
5. The message says conversion is not just a change of mind, but a transformation of heart and vision. Is there an area of your life where you need God to help you see things differently? How can you invite Him into that process? [04:15]
6. The ultimate goal, according to the sermon, is to reach heaven and order everything else toward that end. What is one area of your life that needs to be “reordered” so that it helps you move toward Christ? [03:45]
7. The sermon encourages daily turning toward Christ in how we relate, learn, love, and serve. What is one small, concrete way you can turn toward Christ in your daily routine this week? [04:15]