Every so often, the readings presented in the Lectionary converge in a way that invites us to consider the weight and beauty of discipleship anew. This week, the wisdom of Scripture calls us to reflect on what it truly means to carry our cross and to share in the burdens of those most in need. Drawing upon Wisdom 9:13–18b, Philemon 9–10, 12–17, and Luke 14:25–33, we are invited to see that the call to follow Christ is inseparable from the call to compassion and solidarity.

The Mystery and Gift of Divine Wisdom

The passage from Wisdom sets the stage: “For who can learn the counsel of God? Or who can discern what the Lord wills?” (Wisdom 9:13). We are reminded that, on our own, our understanding is limited. The weight of life, the perplexity of suffering, and the complexity of human relationships can seem overwhelming. Yet, the reading continues, “But when the soul is given light, when the knowledge of God comes, our paths become straight.” Human wisdom is fragile, but God’s Spirit grants clarity.

This is a profound spiritual starting point. To carry our cross is not merely to endure hardships stoically, nor is it a solitary journey of grit; it is an act of receiving divine wisdom, recognizing our dependence on God, and allowing God’s Spirit to illuminate our path, especially when the way forward seems uncertain or steep.

Philemon: A Lesson in Christian Love and Advocacy

Turning to Paul’s brief, heartfelt letter to Philemon, we encounter one of the most personal and challenging moments in the New Testament. Paul writes “out of love,” appealing on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave who has become “like a son” to Paul during his imprisonment. Paul now sends Onesimus back, not as a slave but “no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother” (Philemon 16).

Paul’s approach embodies what it means to help another carry their burden. Though Paul himself is in chains, his heart is open to the freedom of Onesimus. Rather than command Philemon, Paul appeals to his love, inviting him to see Onesimus with new eyes, not as property or problem but as kin. In this, Paul models what Wisdom urges: a heart attuned to God’s Spirit, willing to act from love even when it defies convention or convenience.

Here we see the cross not as a solitary suffering but as a shared burden. Paul intercedes for Onesimus, risking his own relationship and reputation, so that Onesimus might have a new beginning. The church, Paul insists, is built not on power or hierarchy but on the radical reordering of relationships, the restoration of dignity, the healing of divisions, the creation of true family in Christ.

Luke: The Cost and Freedom of Discipleship

In Luke 14:25–33, Jesus speaks with a clarity that startles: If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, spouse and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, they cannot be my disciple. “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

These are not words of casual invitation. Jesus asks us to count the cost, to consider whether we are willing to follow Him not only in joy but in sacrifice, not only in comfort but in love that rearranges our priorities. To “carry the cross” is to be willing to let go of anything that hinders us from following Christ wholeheartedly.

But Jesus is not advocating for reckless abandonment or the breaking of human bonds for their own sake. Rather, He warns us that true discipleship will sometimes put us at odds with the values and expectations of our world, even with those closest to us. It means putting God, and the call to love, above all else.

Carrying Our Cross: Beyond Ourselves

These readings, taken together, invite us to move beyond an individualistic understanding of “carrying our cross.” In popular imagination, this phrase can become a kind of stoic mantra: “Everyone has their cross to bear.” While there is truth in recognizing the personal struggles we each endure, the Gospel vision is far more communal and dynamic.

To carry our cross means to live in solidarity. When Paul advocates for Onesimus, he carries a cross on behalf of another. When the Spirit grants us wisdom, we see more clearly the burdens our neighbors carry, poverty, loneliness, injustice, grief, and we are moved to act. Our discipleship is tested not simply in how we endure suffering, but in how we help those most in need to bear theirs.

Consider the world around us: who are the Onesimuses in our midst? Who lives under the weight of invisible chains, longing for freedom, dignity, and family? Whose burdens go unseen? In our communities, in our churches, in our neighborhoods, we are surrounded by opportunities to lift burdens, to offer advocacy, to give presence, to risk our own reputations for the sake of another’s new life.

The Spirit’s Invitation

Of course, to live this way is not easy. It requires the wisdom the author of Wisdom prays for, the humility to admit we do not know everything, the openness to be guided, the courage to act in love rather than simply in obligation or fear.

It requires what Jesus asks: the willingness to let go of our own security, our own privilege, even our own comfort, to follow Him into unexpected places and relationships.

It requires what Paul models: the vulnerability to stand beside those most in need, to see them not as objects of charity but as partners in Christ, as brothers and sisters for whom we bear responsibility.

Practicing Cross-Carrying Today

How do we begin? First, by prayer, asking God for wisdom to see what we cannot see, to discern the burdens around us and the courage to respond. Second, by community, opening our eyes and hearts to those who are marginalized, listening to their stories, and standing in solidarity. Third, by action, whether that means advocacy, generosity, friendship, or simply presence.

We can ask ourselves:

Who in my life is carrying a heavy burden right now?
How might I help lighten their load?
Where do I need God’s wisdom to see more clearly and love more deeply?
Are there relationships or comforts I must let go of so I can follow Christ more fully?

A Community of Cross-Bearers

Let us remember: the cross is not only a symbol of suffering but of radical love. It is the place where Jesus meets us, bears our burdens, and invites us into a new family defined not by blood or status, but by grace.

May we be people who do not shy away from the cost of discipleship, but embrace it in hope. May we, like Paul, advocate for the Onesimuses in our world. May we, like the author of Wisdom, seek God’s counsel. May we, like Jesus, find our lives not by clinging to them, but by giving them away for the sake of others.

As we carry our crosses, may we help others with theirs so that together, we may all come to know the freedom, dignity, and love that is the heart of the Gospel.

Pax et Bonum,

Bishop Greer