Today's Gospel Reading: Luke 9:18-24
The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.' Then he said to them all, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Who would ever want to follow someone after knowing that that person will suffer greatly, be rejected by the authorities and be killed? What's worse --- to predict that after being killed would be raised up on the third day? Who would ever want to follow this person who obviously is a lost cause?
It is easy for all Christians to say now that we are ready to follow Christ because we have already known that he indeed had suffered, rejected, killed and raised up on the third day. It is easy for us to believe because all happened according to his words. And yet it was different for his followers at that time. It was different for his apostles.
It might have been difficult to chew and to swallow these words from Christ, to come to terms with his predictions of his fate and what is expected from his disciples, to deny themselves and take up their cross daily, then follow him. It must have been difficult to make that decision to follow Christ at that time. It might have been easier to just leave this man and have nothing to do with him. And yet, there was something about this Jesus. There was something different about him that the apostles, being with him for quite some time, decided to deny themselves, leave their lives (their families, loved ones, livelihood, etc.) for his sake. There must have seen something in Jesus to stick with him (at least until that Thursday night).
What would it be? Who could it be? There is only one way to find out, and that is to closely follow this man. Follow his journey, listen to his words, observe his actions. This is the only way to find out. Only after this that we would know, we would see what the apostles knew, what the apostles saw in him. This is the only way our following of Christ will be more authentic, more real, more practical. This is the only way we can respond with conviction, "Yes, I will follow you, Lord."
About Me
- rebornrose
- I am Renee Rose. This is the real me. Up to when I was in highschool, my friends and relatives call me this. In college though, I just want to be known as Renee (Re-ni). I dropped my second name completely. In ancient times, it was believed that a name stands for who you are. Since I dropped my second name in college up to this day, I also felt like I lost a part of my identity somehow. I am half the person I am, so to speak. I do not know what reverting to my real name entails. A new disposition? a new perspective? a new take on life? I only hope for better things. I am Renee Rose, a rose born anew.
No comments:
Post a Comment