What Is Jesus Suggesting With the Imperative, “Take Up YOUR Cross and Follow Me”?

The above consideration was discussed yesterday in the fifth session of our adult ed Sunday School hour class, DOWN + OUT – Where Grace Takes You. Last week we discussed how that when we go “out” into the world, we administer God’s grace through our “vocation” (our “calling” for which we are God-gifted).

This week we were presented with the idea that our own family is the first focus of our vocation. One Lutheran theologian in our DVD series suggested that “parents are the apostles, bishops and priests” for their children. He meant, of course, that our children discover and get to know God through our lives.

As regards family, how do we best live out our vocation. Another discussion leader pointed out that we “find our cross in our calling.” He was referring to Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Mark, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” We don’t bear Jesus’ cross; we take up our own.

Our discussion then zeroed in on how this is done in the family context. One DVD series leader offered that “we don’t ask, ‘what’s the Christian thing to do?’” Instead, we should ask, “what needs to be done? – and then do it.” If the carpet is dusty, vacuum. If there are dishes in the sink, wash them. If a diaper needs changing, change it. The cross we are asked to bear takes form and is applied in doing everything we notice in the family setting that needs doing.

Lutherans believe that we administer God’s grace to our family in this way. And I’ve got a feeling it’s not only Lutherans who believe this. Now if we could only practice it.