Jesus came saying things people did not want to hear, so they killed him. It is the way. "We can't handle the truth." Col. Nathan R. Jessup was right about that. Jesus' words to those who follow him have nothing to do with the Eucharist, where he is seen as "dying for us." No one can die for another. Dying is an individual/personal affair. We all die for ourselves, in the service of our own life. That is the way. When Jesus said, "Take up your (own) cross and follow me!" he was going to die. He was inviting us to come along and die ourselves in the work of being alive. The work will kill us and bring us to life. We live for the work that is ours to do. Doing what must be done. Saying what must be said. The cup of suffering is the cup of salvation. The bread of affliction is bread of life. Entry level stuff. Basic Spirituality 101. The path "will fill our hearts brimful and break them too" (William Alexander Percy). We could talk to Mary about that. And all the others. Living truthfully is the only way to die! That is what Jesus came to say, and to do. The model for how to do it. "The message of the messiah is, 'There is no messiah!'" (Fred Craddock). We have to do the work our life calls us to do on our own. It is the way. The truth, and the life. We know it is so. There is only knowing what we know and getting to work! Saying what needs to be said! Doing what needs to be done! In each situation as it arises. Every day.
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Jim Dollar's Photography and Philosophy 
This message will keep me going all week. Thank you for quoting much-neglected W. A.Percy!
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