Today’s Gospel speaks of two contemporary themes: the cross we all have to bear every day and its fruit, that is, Life with capital letters, supernatural and eternal.

When we listen to the Gospel we stand up as a sign we want to follow its teachings. Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, not to follow “the pleasure of our whims” —as the psalmist claims— or, as Saint Paul cites, to get rid of “the deceiving greed”. To take up our own cross is to accept the little mortifications we find every day along the way.

We can be helped out by what Jesus said in His priestly sermon at the cenacle: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.” (Jn 15:1-2). A hopeful gardener pampering the grapes so they bear the best wine! Yes, we want to follow our Lord! Yes, we are conscious the Father wishes to help us so our branches bear an abundant fruit in our earthly life which we can later enjoy in the Eternal Life.

Saint Ignatius used to guide Saint Francis Xavier with the words of today's text: “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mk 8:36). This is how he got appointed the patron of Missions. With the same idea in our minds, we can read the last canon of the Canon Law Code (n. 1752): “(...) and the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one's eyes.” And Saint Augustine also has his famous lesson: “Animam salvasti, animam tuam praedestinasti”, which could be translated as: “He who dedicates himself with true zeal to the salvation of souls has thus good reasons to hope for eternal life.” The invitation is quite clear.

The Virgin Mary, Mother of Divine Grace, helps us to advance in this way.