"Take up thy cross and follow Me"

I have been pondering over the remark made by the new Pope Francis 1. It applies not just to Roman Catholics but also to all believers of Christ regardless of the denomination we belong to.

"When we walk without the cross, when we build without the cross and when we proclaim Christ without the cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly," he told the massed ranks of cardinals clad in golden vestments.
"We may be bishops, priests, cardinals, popes, all of this, but we are not disciples of the Lord," he added.

“Take up thy cross and follow Me,”
I hear the blessed Savior call;
How can I make a lesser sacrifice,
When Jesus gave His all? (Alfred H Ackley)