Thursday after Ash Wednesday: 23rd February, 2023 February 23, 2023
Reflection on the WORD
World and Heaven – Faith: In today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims to His disciples, “Take up your cross every day and follow Me. What benefit is it to anyone to win the whole world and losehis soul and Eternal Happiness?” Ponder on: Jesus is inviting us not to give up ‘Eternal Life’ in exchange for the empty pleasures and glories of this world.
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?