Don’t Be Ashamed to Carry Your Cross

There’s no reason to be ashamed. Jesus makes clear, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

We can’t earn our way into heaven, and yet God calls us to do our part and be purified of our attachments to this world, noting that the way to heaven is a hard one (Matt. 7:13-14). St. Paul affirms that power reaches perfection in weakness (2 Cor. 12:8-10) and that we will be purified as needed before entering heaven (1 Cor. 3:15).

What is truly shameful is turning away from Christ and laying down our cross (see Matt. 7:21).