Reflection On Luke 9:22-25

All three synoptic evangelists’ record in their Gospels the passage read at today’s liturgy. The three accounts are very similar, but Luke adds an additional thought about carrying one’s cross. Where Mathew and Mark say we should carry our crosses, Luke adds the words, “each day”. We could take up our crosses periodically and still say we are following Jesus’ command. Luke, however, makes sure we understand that this is something which is to be done on a daily basis. Perhaps the Church chose Luke’s Gospel today, rather than one of the others, to emphasize this extended thought of daily commitment. The exhortation is especially meaningful on this second day of Lent.
We can easily be inspired about this penitential season on Ash Wednesday, but the real test begins now. On the day after, our resolutions and programs for spiritual improvement must be followed on a regular, daily basis if we hope to achieve any success those who are faithful daily, and dependable in their prayers and good deeds, will be the ones who are recognized as the true disciples of Jesus.  Jesus had to undergo great suffering and rejection from others, even from His own dear ones. Following Jesus is a great challenge before us, which calls for the acceptance of suffering, rejection, misunderstanding and total renunciation. These are the crosses that await us in our path of following Jesus. Trying to avoid these daily crosses would mean simply bypassing a greater reward-eternal life. Consciously taking up these crosses and following Jesus even at the cost of our lives, keeps us on the path to eternal life.
It was a bomb that launched in the midst of His disciples when He spoke these words –‘if anyone wants to follow me, he must forget self, and take up his cross every day’. It was admirable honesty on His part, but utter disillusionment for disciples. All their dreams about His capturing the power from the Romans and their having a good share in it, all shattered at one blow. They could not understand that His path to glory through Calvary and the Cross. The path is the same for anyone who wants to follow Jesus as a disciple. We too be eager to share His glory but terribly scared of Calvary and the Cross. Aren’t we? Lord initiates us to take up your cross with courage and love without hesitation.


Comments

Post a Comment

write your comments here!!

Popular posts from this blog

Reflection On Mark 8: 11-13

There is a proverb which states, “There are none so blind as those who won’t see.”  It means if your mind is set on one direction, it will be almost impossible to convince you of something different. Such is the frame of mind of the Pharisees concerning Jesus. When they approach Him and ask for a sign from heaven, their mind is already made up that Jesus is fake. Their intention is to expose Him as such and thus to undermine his authority and even hopefully, to completely discredit Him and have Him lose popular support. The Pharisees were the perennial negative critics of Jesus. They were the many little crosses He had to accept and carry every day prior to His big cross. Notice how they boldly stepped forward here and immediately started to argue with Jesus. They refused to take the Lord’s words at face value. They claimed a sign from the heavens would enable them to place their faith in the Lord, but Jesus knew that even the most spectacular signs would not convince them to a...
Read more

Reflection On Mark 1: 12-15

In the reading, we get two messages for today. Jesus’ forty days of wilderness and a call to repentance.  Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness paralleled Israel’s forty years in the wilderness. In both the instances, there is the apparent ‘absence of God.’ The presence of God emerges as a result of struggle and testing. Satan tests Jesus in the wilderness, whereas Israel tested God there. Our Lord’s suffering, hunger, loneliness and humiliation at the hands of His enemies were all for us. This very thought should make us feel gladly welcome the little bit of suffering and humiliation we are to take for ourselves in our routines. One may not be in strict fasting from food and drink, yet there are subtle ways of observing penance in our daily lives – a controlled temper, less uncharitable talks, a little help, etc. which will help to keep our unruly minds and bodies in cheek, while at the same time it will show that we are grateful to our loving Savior for all that He suffered for u...
Read more

Reflection On Luke 4: 24-30

Today’s readings speak to the subject of God’s broad mindedness in the person of Naaman. He was the Syrian army commander who became the recipient of God’s merciful healing. Jesus was totally aware of this man’s is having been cured of leprosy and, In turn, made comment on the meaning of this healing. Those legally loyal Jewish people became very angry with Jesus as they listened to the virtues of this foreigner being extolled over their own. We, too, can fall into this same sin of narrow-mindedness. Do we think, for example, that Catholics have a monopoly on the whole truth and nothing but the truth, while Protestants, Orthodox, Jewish and other people are all in unyielding error? If we truly feel that way, may God help us. Catholics don’t own God; either do the Protestants or the Jews or any other group. Not even the fundamentalists can claim exclusive rights to God. God is for all people. The Jews thought that the Messiah would be for the Jews only. Since Jesus did ...
Read more