The Holy Gospel according to Mark (8:34—9:1).
Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
He also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Reflection. What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? What should we expect if we choose to follow Jesus? Today’s Gospel Jesus speaks words that challenge us. He says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” These words remind us that being a disciple is a choice we make and not something forced upon us. It is not about being comfortable or asking, “what’s in it for me?” It is about surrender and trust.
To take up our cross means embracing the sacrifices and struggles of daily life in faith. It means choosing to love when it is difficult, standing for the truth even when it is not popular, especially on those “hot button” issues of the sanctity and protection of life “from womb to tomb”, the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman, and other moral issues that are “legal”, but not moral. The secular world teaches us to seek success, pleasure and power. Jesus tells us that true discipleship is losing ourselves, or giving these things up, for His sake and for the Gospel.
We should also know that there is no one single or right way to follow Jesus. God blesses our diversity. We all have different gifts, talents, and callings to be a disciple. Using our different gifts and talents, we are called to live the Gospel wherever we are planted. Jesus assures us: “Some standing here will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.” This reminds us that God’s kingdom is not just in the future, it is here and now, it is among us.
One day Mother Teresa saw one of her sisters headed out into the streets with a long face. She called her over and said, “What did Jesus say, to carry the cross in front of Him or to follow Him?” The sister responded, smiling, “To follow Him.” Mother then asked, “Why are you trying to go ahead of Him?” We follow Jesus because He who sustains our faith and hope, shows us the way.
Action for the Day. Being a disciple is a choice. Jesus tells us, “Whoever WISHES to come after me…” We do not have to “wish” this. But if we do “wish” to follow Jesus, we need to ask ourselves, are we truly following Him, or just walking beside Him when it is convenient? Pray for the grace to have the courage to take up our cross everyday, knowing that in losing ourselves for Christ, we find everlasting life.
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Thank you, Deacon Mike.