Thursday after Ash Wednesday: 27th February, 2020 February 27, 2020
Reflection on the WORD
Suffering – Cross: In today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” To be true disciples of Jesus, demands that we be humble, selfless and strong in the witnessing of our faith in Jesus.
Luke 9:22-25
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The Son of man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’
Then, speaking to all, he said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, will save it. What benefit is it to anyone to win the whole world and forfeit or lose his very self?’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- If we want to be Jesus’ followers, then we are to embrace the cross. Our initial reaction to Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel is one of trepidation and fear.
- While this is true of us emotionally, our faith assures us that Jesus will always be there with us, to carry the heaviest part of our cross for us. We are never alone.
- The cross is not a symbol of pain and suffering. The cross in essence is a service of love for God and our participation of Christ mission in saving the world. Are we willing to be Jesus’ disciples?