1 Hard and grievous does that appear which the Lord has enjoined, that “whosoever will come after Him, must deny himself.” But what He enjoins is not hard or grievous, who aids us that what He enjoins may be done. For both is that true which is said to Him in the Psalm, “Because of the words of Your lips I have kept hard ways.” And that is true which He said Himself, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” For whatsoever is hard in what is enjoined us, charity makes easy.
We know what great things love itself can do. Very often is this love even abominable and impure; but how great hardships have men suffered, what indignities and intolerable things have they endured, to attain to the object of their love? Whether it be a lover of money who is called covetous; or a lover of honour, who is called ambitious; or a lover of beautiful women, who is called voluptuous. And who could enumerate all sorts of loves? Yet consider what labour all lovers undergo, and are not conscious of their labours; and then does any such one most feel labour, when he is hindered from labour.
Since then the majority of men are such as their loves are, and that there ought to be no other care for the regulation of our lives, than the choice of that which we ought to love; why do you wonder, if he who loves Christ, and who wishes to follow Christ, for the love of Him denies himself? For if by loving himself man is lost, surely by denying himself he is found.
Source: Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament (New Advent)