You're listening to Catholic Sprouts, the daily podcast for Catholic kids that strives to plant seeds of faith.

Hey there, Sprout, today is Thursday, September 2, 2021.

This week we are talking about discipleship, and we are going through the 10 marks of a disciple. We've already talked about the first mark that disciples are called. Number two,

disciples respond to this calling. Number three, disciples love. Number four, disciples are

obedient. Number five, disciples follow. Number six, disciples are taught. And number seven, disciples keep their eyes on heaven,

because that is their true home. Now, today we're going to talk about two more marks of a

disciple. Number eight, the disciples suffer willingly for Jesus, and that disciples serve God by serving others.

So first of all, suffering.

Now, Christ never promised us that being his follower would be easy.

In fact, he told the early disciples that in order to be his follower,

they must pick up their cross and follow him. I know maybe you've heard that phrase a lot,

but I want you to think for a second about what this sounded like to the disciples.

Remember, crucifixion was horribly painful, but it was also really

embarrassing. If someone you knew or a family member was crucified, you would be shamed, you would be

embarrassed because it was a very public, horrific event. And carrying your cross was one of the worst parts of this punishment.

Remember, Jesus was given his cross and he was forced to walk through the streets of Jerusalem

out of the city to the place of crucifixion. And as he walked, in fact, we have a devotion,

the way of the cross, the stations of

the cross, he was mocked, he was spit on, he was whipped by Roman soldiers. It was horribly

embarrassing and painful for him. So imagine the disciples had seen criminals suffer in this

way. And Christ is telling telling them you must pick up

your cross and follow me you must go where I go even if it is painful and embarrassing and the

...