Episode 2936: The Cost of Love Taking Up Our Cross with Christ - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”
The Cost of Love: Taking Up Our Cross with Christ
we delve into the timeless truths of our Catholic faith, guided by the wisdom of Scripture and the saints. Todnight’s episode will focus on a truth that many in our world resist true love requires sacrifice. It requires the cross.
Our guiding words today come from Fr. John Bartunek:
"Growing in love requires self-denial, self-forgetfulness, self-giving. And in this fallen world, self-giving is often painful (in heaven it won't be). It involves taking up the cross, just as Jesus took up his own cross in order to show the extent of his love for the Father and for us. The cross symbolizes the painful self-sacrifice that growing in love requires in this fallen world. If we truly desire to grow in loving God, to learn to love him with all our all, we will have to carry crosses."
Additionally, we will reflect on the prayer of St. Eulalia, a young martyr who understood that true righteousness requires total surrender to God:
"Lord Jesus Christ, hear my prayer and perfect Thy merciful goodness in me and grant me to be received among the number of Thine elect into the rest of life eternal, making of me a sign of righteousness that men, believing in Thee, may behold and praise Thy power. Amen."
These words challenge us to embrace suffering as a means to holiness and a path to eternal life.
________________________________________
Segment 1: The Nature of True Love—The Way of the Cross
Love, in its truest form, is self-giving. Christ Himself teaches us this when He says:
"Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
The world tells us that love should be easy, that love is about fulfilling our desires. But as Catholics, we know that love is about self-denial. It is about pouring ourselves out for God and for others, even when it costs us.
Fr. Bartunek reminds us that self-giving is painful in this fallen world. Why? Because sin has made us selfish. Our nature resists suffering. Yet, Christ calls us to something greater—to take up our cross daily and follow Him. (Luke 9:23)
St. Eulalia understood this well. She was only 12 or 13 years old when she was brought before the Roman authorities for refusing to deny Christ. Knowing full well the torments that awaited her, she stood firm, choosing to suffer rather than betray her Lord. She did not ask for an easy life. Instead, she prayed that God would make her a sign of righteousness, so that others might believe in His power.
What a radical way to live! Imagine if we prayed that God would use our sufferings as a witness to others instead of asking Him to remove them.

________________________________________
Segment 2: Carrying Our Daily Crosses
While few of us will face martyrdom in the physical sense, we are all called to die to ourselves daily.
• Parents sacrifice their comfort and time to raise their children in the faith.
• Priests and religious give up worldly attachments to serve the Church.
• Employees endure injustices at work with patience, offering their trials to God.
• Those suffering from illness or hardship embrace their crosses in union with Christ.
Each of these crosses, though different in nature, share one common purpose: they purify us and increase our capacity to love. The saints understood this well.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux once said:
"Suffering gladly borne for others converts more people than sermons."
It is no wonder that our Lord calls us to embrace suffering. The cross does not destroy love it perfects it.
________________________________________

Segment 3: The Reward of the Cross
As Fr. Bartunek reminds us, in heaven, love will no longer require suffering. But here, the way of the cross is the only path to eternal joy.
Christ Himself did not bypass suffering to reach glory He went through it. St. Paul tells us:
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
St. Eulalia suffered tremendously she was tortured and ultimately gave her life for Christ. But what was her reward? Eternal life with the King of Heaven.
Every sacrifice we make for God, no matter how small, will be repaid a hundredfold in eternity. This is the promise of Christ.
________________________________________
Conclusion & Final Prayer
As we conclude, let us reflect: Are we embracing our crosses or trying to avoid them? Do we truly see suffering as a path to holiness? Let us pray for the grace to surrender ourselves entirely to God’s will, just as St. Eulalia did.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father,
You sent Your Son to show us the way of true love—a love that sacrifices, a love that suffers, a love that saves. Give us the grace to embrace the crosses You place before us, knowing that they lead to eternal joy.
Like St. Eulalia, may we be signs of righteousness in a world that seeks comfort over truth. Strengthen us to carry our daily burdens with patience and love, uniting them with Christ’s perfect sacrifice.
We ask this through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, who stood at the foot of the cross, and through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Thank you for joining me tonight. May God give you the strength to embrace your cross and follow Him more closely. Until next time, may He bless and keep you.