Whose Will?

 I see some people who say they are Christian, who do all sorts of pious actions, often in their churches.  They light candles, say novenas, pray at statues and holy pictures, and attend mass and benedictions.  This can be all quite good, but their leader, Jesus did not talk much if at all about any of this pious activity.  He did say, “Take up your cross and follow me.”  He was about letting go of his will, loving the unlovable, the “other,” paying attention to those who could neither see nor hear.  He did not live in some protective bubble of ego and comfort.  Personally, I find the novenas a lot easier than following Jesus.  Maybe that is why he seems to have a lot of worshippers but few followers.