For this Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, we continue our journey with Jesus and his disciples through the Gospel of Matthew and respond to Jesus’ call to discipleship. In today’s reading from Jeremiah, the prophet speaks of the incurable wound of his suffering. Yet, Jeremiah finds in God’s words the delight of his heart. In Matthew, Peter doesn’t grasp Jesus’ words about suffering. In response, Jesus tells his disciples to take up their cross and follow him and they will then find their lives in losing them. What does it mean for you to take up your cross so that you can follow Jesus? In worship we gather as a community that we might offer ourselves for the sake of our suffering world.