The last century has often been described as having a culture of consumerism, where social status and happiness are increasingly tied to material possessions. When taken to the extreme, then self-worth gets tied to one's possessions, and life becomes a never-ending cycle of labour and consumption. A quarter of the way into this century, we have not changed and if anything, we've grown worse with the advent of the internet and social media.

The Lord, in today's Gospel, gives us an antidote that can seem like a bitter pill, but may be necessary for us all. We're called to take up our cross to follow Him, losing our lives so that we may find it. This is not a call to give up, or to go into seclusion, but a powerful reminder of where our priorities should be in life. Taking up the cross is recognising that our lives of faith would come with difficulties and challenges. Losing our lives refers to us relinquishing ultimate control, surrendering ourselves to God. By doing this, we cease struggling to prove our worth with possessions or mere things, but seek the things that last instead. Making this shift is not easy, but is very much possible if we keep our eyes and hearts on the Lord, seeking His Will instead of filling our lives with too many things.