Gospel in Art: Take up your cross daily and follow me

A man walking with his shadow carrying the cross. Digitally mastered photo by Kevin Carden, 2014 ©Kevin Carden / GoodSalt

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 19 February 2026
Luke 9:22-25

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: 'The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.'

And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?'

Reflection on the photograph

Kevin Carden is a contemporary photographer who uses digitally mastered imagery to create striking religious compositions. In this photograph, we see a man walking from darkness into light, a Bible held firmly in his left hand. His posture is upright and resolute, suggesting strength and purpose, yet the shadow cast upon the wall reveals another reality: it shows him bent beneath the weight of a cross. All of us carry hidden crosses. The contrast between the man and his shadow creates a simple yet powerful visual meditation.

So what does Christ mean in today's Gospel when he calls us to take up our cross "every day"? It reminds us that love of Christ cannot be occasional or convenient; it is a daily choice. To carry our cross is to say "no" to what may seem easier or more comfortable, and at the same time to say a deeper "yes", a yes to service, to fidelity, and to walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Precisely because this call is renewed each day, the Lord teaches us to pray, "give us this day our daily bread." We need the grace and strength that only God can provide if we are to remain faithful in the ordinary rhythm of daily life.

Carrying our cross does not mean passively resigning ourselves to whatever suffering comes our way (whether loss, shame, hurt, or disappointment) realities none of us can entirely avoid. Rather, it invites us to meet life's challenges with a reflective and trusting heart. Faith does not remove the weight of the cross, but it transforms how we carry it! Each day the Lord calls us anew, and each day we try, however imperfectly, to respond with courage, hope, and love.

LINKS

Christian Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reading: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/luke-9-22-25-2026/