Take up Your Cross Daily and Follow Jesus Christ
Introduction: May you continue to be formed into the image of Jesus,
the Master so that others will come to know the Master by the way we relate to them.
One of the highest compliments a teacher could receive
is when he/she returns and relates how they have tried to live out something that
the teacher has challenged them to do. They appreciate the role model the teacher
gave in their lives and seek to follow something that he/she did that they found
to be important in their lives. Imitation is a form of flattery or at least acknowledgment
of some value. Jesus is the Greatest Role Model and teacher. He has given us the
best example of what it means to be caring, loving, and of service to others. We
are called to imitate His lifestyle and thus give glory not only to Him but to His
Abba Father.
The saying goes, “I never promised you a rose
garden.” In a sense, GOD never promises a rose garden either during our life on
earth, unless the rose plants are covered with thorns. Jeremiah realizes how
difficult his life is because he is a prophet of the LORD. The only source of
help and strength is a relationship with the LORD as the psalm reminds us. St.
Paul cautions the Romans that their lives, their very selves, must be a
sacrifice to GOD. In the Gospel, Jesus lays down the requirements for His
disciples: “Deny yourself, carry your cross, and follow the Master.”
Commentary: What does Paul mean by ‘theodidact’, taught by God?
He seems to regard it as the characteristic of all Christians, or at least of all
the Christians at Thessalonika, that all are taught by God to love their neighbours.
Is it, then, something received at conversion and baptism, a teaching or an ability
which inherently belongs to the Christian? Love, and the peace, brought by it, is
infectious. You can’t be a Christian if you don’t love your neighbour? That puts
it about as strongly as Paul seems to intend. Is this the essence of Christianity?
Furthermore, he tells them to
extend this love not merely to the Christians of Thessalonika, but to all those
in Macedonia, presumably in treating them as members of the same family. The
need for hospitality, as Christians moved around, would be a primary example of
this love, but perhaps for us, in an increasingly globalized world, it should be
understood as having special care for Christians all over the world. This will begin
with having some knowledge of them, their problems, sufferings, and concerns. We
are ‘God-taught’ by the Spirit the basic concern, but we need to take the trouble
to put it into practice.
The psalmist realizes that no matter what happens,
GOD is the one and only help that can be counted on. It is only when reflecting
on one’s life that it is possible to see GOD’s hand at work, guiding,
protecting, and helping. The only response is to give GOD glory and praise.
Psalm is a call to worship
and praise God for His wondrous deeds and His impending righteous judgment. It
encourages believers to recognize God's power and justice, not only in their
personal lives but also in the broader context of the world and creation. It's
a reminder that God is both the Creator and the Just Judge of all.
Commentary: There is a progression in these four parables leading
up to the final judgment. In the first, it is a question of alertness of the householder
to the whole situation (24.42-44). In the second the steward needs to be the right
sort of person to be left in charge (24.45-51). In the third, the savvy girls have
prepared by getting the right kit (25.1-13). Now in the fourth, the slaves make
the correct use of their gifts. Or do not, for in each case the point is made by
contrast.
Matthew shares the outline of
the Parable of the Talents with Luke, but Luke has built it out to include other
elements. In Matthew’s version, the sums of money are enormous: even a single talent
is more than the annual tribute of a medium-sized Roman province, but Matthew likes
to illustrate with huge figures, and of course, it is not specified how long the
master is absent, so how long a period the slaves have to double the sums. Not all
slaves were confined to basic manual labour, and there were instances of slaves
who held important administrative positions in the Roman Empire.
The final conversation with
the unsuccessful slave is slightly worrying it hovers on the edge of allegory. The
returning master must be intended to be Christ, the Son of man who is about to exercise
judgement; but is he really to be understood as a hard man, reaping where he had
not sown? The unsuccessful slave must be intended as those who reject Jesus, but
need he be so aggressively cocky? Are these features merely enlivening decorations
of the story, or are they intended to convey a meaning, to be picked up and enlarged
in the scene of the final judgement?
Reflection:
What is the way to glory and victory in the kingdom of God? Jesus
told his disciples that he must first suffer rejection, be crucified, and then rise
again on the third day. In so many words he explained that there could be no victory
and no glory without the cross. Jesus' prediction of his suffering and death on
the cross caused his disciples great dismay and disbelief. Peter, who was often
the first to react to whatever Jesus had to say, wanted to protect Jesus from any
threat or harm. That is why he rebuked the very thought of Jesus having to face
rejection, condemnation, and crucifixion.
"My
way or God's way"
Why
did Jesus use the word "Satan" when he addressed Peter? When Jesus went
out into the wilderness to prepare for his public ministry, Satan came to tempt
him to follow a different path than the one chosen by the Father in heaven. Now
Jesus recognizes in Peter's response another temptation to seek a different and
less costly path for accomplishing his mission than the way of the cross. The word
"Satan" literally means "adversary" - one who stands in opposition.
Jesus reminds Peter that his role is not to be an adversary but a disciple
- one who gets behind his Master to follow with trust and obedience.
Victory
and glory through the cross
Jesus
knew that the cross was the only way he could ransom us from slavery to sin with
the price of his blood which was shed for our freedom. Through his sacrificial death
on the cross, Jesus defeated Satan who held us in bondage to sin and condemnation.
And Jesus defeated the power of death and overcame the grave through his resurrection.
Through his obedience to his heavenly Father's will, Jesus reversed the curse of
Adam's disobedience. His death on the cross won pardon for the guilty, freedom for
the oppressed, healing for the afflicted, and new life for those condemned to death.
His death makes possible our freedom to live as the adopted sons and daughters of
the merciful Father in heaven.
The
paradox of God's economy
Jesus
told his disciples that they, too, must be willing to lay down their lives in order
to gain new everlasting life with the Father in his kingdom. There's a certain paradox
in God's economy. We lose what we gain, and we gain what we lose. When we try to
run our life our own way, we end up losing it to futility. Only God can free us
from our ignorant and sinful ways. When we surrender our lives to God, he gives
us new life in his Spirit and the pledge of eternal life. God wants us to be spiritually
fit and ready to do his will at all times. When the human body is very weak or ill,
we make every effort to nurse it back to health. How much more effort and attention
should we give to the spiritual health of our hearts and minds!
The
great exchange
What
will you give to God in exchange for freedom and eternal life? Are you ready to
part with anything that might keep you from following the Lord Jesus and his perfect
plan for your life? Jesus poses these questions to challenge our assumptions about
what is most profitable and worthwhile in life. In every decision of life, we are
making ourselves a certain kind of person. It is possible that some can gain all
the things they have set their heart on, only to wake up suddenly and discover that
they missed the most important thing of all. Of what value are material things if
they don't help you gain what truly lasts for eternity? Neither money nor possessions
can buy heaven, mend a broken heart, or cheer a lonely person.
Losing all to gain all with Jesus Christ
A
true disciple gladly gives up all that he or she has in exchange for an unending
life of joy and happiness with God. God gives without measure. The joy he offers
no sadness or loss can diminish. The cross of Jesus Christ leads to victory and
freedom from sin and death. What is the cross which Jesus Christ commands me to
take up each day? When my will crosses with his will, then his will
must be done. Are you ready to lose all for Jesus Christ in order to gain all with
Jesus Christ?
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my
understanding, and all my will, all that I have and possess. You have given them
to me; to you, O Lord, I restore them; all things are yours, dispose of them according
to your will. Give me your love and your grace, for this is enough for me. (Prayer of Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556)
Daily
Quote from the Early Church Fathers: This shall never
happen to you, by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)
"Peter
was examining the issue by human and earthly reasoning. He thought it disgraceful
to Jesus as something unworthy of him. Jesus responded sharply, in effect saying,
'My suffering is not an unseemly matter. You are making this judgment with a carnal
mind. If you had listened to my teachings in a godly way, tearing yourself away
from carnal understanding, you would know that this of all things most becomes me.
You seem to suppose that to suffer is unworthy of me. But I say to you that for
me not to suffer is of the devil's mind.' So, he repressed Peter's alarm by contrary
arguments. Remember that John, accounting it unworthy of Christ to be baptized by
him, was persuaded by Christ to baptize him, saying, 'Let it be so now' (Matthew
3:15). So, we find Peter as well, forbidding Christ to wash his feet. He is met
by the words, 'If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.' Here too Jesus restrained
him by the mention of the opposite, and by the severity of the reproof he repressed
his fear of suffering." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW,
HOMILY 54.6)
BODY-LANGUAGE
“I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as
a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God.” —Romans 12:1
We must offer our bodies as sacrifices to God. We are also
called to offer our “bodies to God as weapons for justice” (Rm 6:13). We must know that our bodies are
temples “of the Holy Spirit, Who is within” (1 Cor 6:19). Our bodies are sacrifices, weapons,
and temples. Because our bodies are sacrifices, we must deny ourselves and let God
consume us (see Heb 12:29). We must give God our best so as
not to offer defective sacrifices (see Mal 1:7-8).
Because our bodies are weapons, we must not be “bloated with
indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares” (Lk 21:34). We should fight by wielding the
“sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6:17)and the spiritual weapons of
prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21, NAB). We must be in shape to “fight
the good fight” of evangelization (1 Tm 1:18).
Because our bodies are temples, they should be holy, clean,
peaceful, and joyous. We need to repent of our sins, go to Confession, and enthrone
Jesus as Lord of our lives and our bodies. Although our bodies are weak and fragile,
they are precious in God’s eyes. If we use them to glorify Him, He will glorify
our bodies and raise them from the dead (see Phil 3:21). “So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:20).
Prayer: Father, I am custom-made to please
You. I offer my body to You. “What profit would a man show if he were to gain the
whole world and destroy himself in the process?” —Mt 16:26. Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, the God
of forgiveness, mercy, and love. Alleluia!
The personal question for today: What does it mean to me to deny myself for the sake
of the Good News? In what ways do I see myself embracing/carrying the cross and
being willing to commit my life (and my death) to the cause of the Master
Teacher? Can other people see Who is my Master by the way I treat them? How can
I better reflect the master teacher in my actions? How can I help others to deny
themselves, take up their crosses, and follow the Master Teacher?