Things to talk about:

• What is one small “cross” you had to carry this week? How did you handle it?
• Who is someone you know who carries their cross well? What can you learn from them?
• How can we help each other carry our crosses as a family or community?

Things to do:

• Dinner Discussion: Have a family discussion on the following question. “What are some things you might put ahead of following Jesus?” Make a plan to intentionally put Jesus first in your life this week.
• Take-Up-Your-Cross Challenge: Give everyone a piece of paper and have them draw/write one way they can follow Jesus this week—even when it’s difficult (being kind to someone, telling the truth, serving without recognition, forgiving someone, etc.). Put the papers somewhere visible and revisit them later in the week.
• Follow the Leader: Have one family member lead everyone through a simple obstacle course, around the house, or outside while the others follow exactly what the leader does. Afterwards, talk about how following Jesus means trusting His direction, even when we don’t understand where He is leading.
• Cross of Service: Cut out a large paper cross and place it somewhere visible. Throughout the week, family members can write acts of service or sacrifice they did for someone else on the cross. At the end of the week, read them together and discuss how serving others reflects Jesus’ example.

Closing Prayer

Lord, I give you my heart, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me!

Name anyone who needs prayer, reply, “Lord, hear our prayers.”  Close with the Sign of the Cross.     

Catholic Insight

In this week’s gospel, Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” This call is at the heart of Christian life. Following Jesus means living with love and sacrifice, just as he did. It means letting go of selfishness and choosing what is good, even when it is hard.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this well. It says, “The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle” (CCC 2015). Holiness does not come from doing whatever we want. It comes from learning to love like Jesus, which takes effort and self-denial. Every time we choose kindness, patience, or honesty, we are saying yes to this way of the cross.

The idea of dying to self appears many times in Scripture. In Luke 9:23, Jesus repeats the same message. Saint Paul also writes about it. In Galatians 2:20, he says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Paul teaches that when we follow Jesus, we let him guide our lives. Our choices should reflect his love.

Catholic tradition reminds us that crosses are not always big, dramatic events. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who is known for her “little way,” taught that holiness is found in small acts of love. Folding laundry with patience, being kind when you are tired, or keeping quiet instead of complaining are all ways to grow closer to God.

Jesus shows us that love involves sacrifice. His greatest act of love was his suffering and death on the cross. He gave himself completely for us. He asks us to love in the same way, even if our sacrifices are small compared to his. When we carry our daily crosses with love, we are joining our hearts to his.