When I was ordained in English Presbyterianism, more than forty years ago, we had in the ranks of our ministry a most unusual character. For one g, he was a millionaire, which in itself marked him as unique, for you don't find many millionaires in our line of work!! But, as well, he drove a Rolls Royce and admitted quite openly that he actually had his underwear tailor made, because he said, "You couldn't expect your suits to fit you properly if your underwear didn't fit"!!

At that same time we also had in the service of our denomination a little group of six untrained lay-pastors, who served our smallest charges and received in return our very smallest stipends. On one occasion these sacrificial souls were gathered for a conference at Westminster College in Cambridge and one of the conference lecturers was none other than our friend, the manicured, ministerial millionaire! He had motored up, in state, from his affluent London suburb to address this impecunious audience - if you please! - on the topic of "Cross Bearing"! The gall of the man! Anyhow, when the lecture was over, the little knot of threadbare pastors stood around in the entrance hall of the college and suddenly there was heard outside the purr of a high powered motor accompanied by the sound of scattering gravel. "What's that noise", inquired one of the pastors, to which another replied, "Oh that is just our lecturer bearing his cross out through the front gate"!!

The story still begets a smile, though admittedly a slightly uncomfortable smile; for now that most of us are more affluent we are not likely to be found fighting for the front pews in church to hear a sermon on "Cross Bearing". Of course it is entirely understandable that we should turn down our hearing aids when that topic is on the menu, for there is a bleakness about this theme which sends a biting blast of winter into our sun-lit, comfort- orientated lives.

All of this comes to mind, for once again, in the unfolding drama of the Christian year, the shadow of the Cross has fallen upon our path. Jesus said, "If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget himself, carry his cross and follow me". And biblical scholars are generally agreed that this is one of the most profoundly challenging words which Our Lord ever uttered about the stringent demands of discipleship. This is not some highly dispensable detail of the gospel which we can readily edit out at will. No, this is the very core of Christ's claim upon us. It is to be taken with the utmost seriousness.

But what does it really mean, "to carry our cross"? What is Jesus saying to us in this terse imperative? He is, of course, referring to the painful process of selfdenial - really of self- crucifixion - which is the inescapable and eternal cost of discipleship. In other words, He is telling us that it is only in as far as we die to self that we can ever hope to come to fulness of life in Him. Discipleship, for the Christian, calls for the daily and hourly effort of taking the cross into our own heart's experience and of sacrificing upon that cross our p ride and all our selfish dreams and earth-bound ambitions.

No w that is easy to say, but it is NOT easy to do. God knows it is not easy to do! Indeed, it is possible only because this crucified Christ has, Himself, gone down that God-forsaken road to crucifixion and has pioneered the path for us. He has blazed the trail and now He beckons to us with irresistible urgency, to follow in His footsteps. And best of all, He promises us His all-sufficient and inexhaustible grace for every step of the way.

"Take up your cross and follow Christ;
Nor think, till death, to lay it down.
For only he who bears the cross,
May hope to wear the glorious crown."