READ
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? 27 For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. (Matthew 16:24–27, RSV2CE)
REFLECT
I want to come after you. I have to imitate you. I must deny my will and accept the will of God for me out of love. You loved the Father so much you let him have his will over your human will. You voluntarily gave up your human will for a greater more sublime heavenly will that saves. I am to take up my cross as you took up yours for the good of the world. I am here to do the same, the Father has a plan for my life too that saves. In order to fulfill it, I too must give up my human will (not wanting to suffer) for the divine will (many see and may convert). If I willingly loose my selfish desires to control and have a comfortable life here I can loose eternal life. That’s gaining nothing but death and the loss of heaven. That’s a wasted life. God will judge us on what we have DONE. Not our faith, but what we have done because of our faith or lack thereof.
PRAY
Jesus, giving up my will to comfort and control is very hard. We do not see clearly and want to be safe and not suffer. But true life is through the cross that brings new life. Help be keep my eyes on the new life that lasts into eternity. I do not want to lose it just for this life that amounts to death in the end. Help me keep vigilant.
REST
Thank you Jesus for telling us what to do. I will rest in knowing I can trust you and what you say to do. Amen.
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