Then after three days he will be raised to life.”
Jesus also said to all the people, “If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself
and take up your cross each day, and follow me! For if you choose to save your life, you
will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you
to gain the whole world, if you destroy or damage yourself?
Reflect
If the commercials are to be believed, people love having choices. Walk into almost any
store and the options seem endless. Online stores seem to offer nearly infinite options
to encourage us to purchase. Beyond buying, people often find it difficult to limit their
choices and commit to one thing, be it a job, a community, a parish, or a relationship.
The choice that God presents is stark. There are only two options: life/good or
death/evil. Clearly God wants us to choose goodness and life, loving him and following
his commandments.
But Jesus points out that the decision is not as easy as it may seem. Jesus tells his followers,
including us, that choosing life means taking up our cross daily, passing through death. Rather
than seeking to protect ourselves, walling ourselves off from others, and tending to our own needs,
we are called to lay down our lives in generous service to our brothers and sisters. Only by
giving all we have and denying ourselves can we find riches that will never disappear. Only by
laying down our lives will we rise to eternal life.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023