This Sunday our appointed gospel reading picks up where last week’s reading left off. After telling his disciples that they should have no fear of those who can kill the body—for there is no death in God and the fear of death should never order the followers of Jesus—Jesus advances this week true cost of following him, saying, “Whoever loves mother or father or children more than me is not worthy of my; and whoever does not take up his or her cross is not worthy of me.” This Sunday let’s rise up to the challenge, heed these words of our master, and understand that what sounds like a call to death is really a call to life.