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We have gathered here as we call ourselves ‘Christians’ —
literally ‘followers of the Anointed One’. But what does it mean to follow the
Anointed One of God? Today we get a stark answer to that question: ‘If anyone
wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross
every day and follow me.’ Let us begin our assembly by reflecting on how well
we follow him.