The Gospel according to Luke (9:22-25)
Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”
Reflection:
In today’s gospel from Luke, we hear Jesus telling his disciples that his mission will end in rejection, death, and resurrection. This is not at all what they were expecting. And he goes on to tell them that if they wish to continue to follow him they must accept the same fate. Talk about a standard for being part of a group!
I have been thinking about what it takes to truly be a follower of Jesus. Today Jesus makes it plain. He offers us the same choice as he did his closest friends back then. If you are like me you probably struggle with not just making the choice to pick up our cross and follow Jesus but to stay committed to the journey. But, like a true leader, he doesn’t leave us without a way to do so. He says we must lose our life, for his sake, and we will save it. Okay. Got it. I think.
I’ve always been a little bit jealous of people who have figured this out and seem to carry their cross quite well. Especially when they do so at a young age. When I was young, and for many years after, I was trying to gain the world. Most of the time it seemed like I was chasing my tail, going in circles, and getting nowhere fast. But, better late than never.
To follow Jesus we must make a complete and total commitment. We must be ALL in. This includes holding nothing back, even our very lives. Most if not all of us have been able to, at some point, follow Jesus in just such a way. We hold nothing back and receive a grace that cannot be explained in human terms. We must tap into the supernatural, where the spirit can sense the presence of God. This is where we experience the beautiful reality that without God we can do nothing. But with God all things are possible.
As we begin our Lenten journey may our attention to prayer, fasting, and charity produce an awareness that only comes through total surrender to Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Let us lose ourselves in the desert and find salvation in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Action of the day:
What is holding us back from a complete and total surender to what Jesus has to offer? No, carrying our cross is not easy. But how is anything worth having easy. The more we are able to let go of the world the more we will be free of our desire to satisfy our own needs. Take full advantage of the invitation to spend some time in the desert this Lent. Seek and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened.
Audio Reflection:
