This time is a teaching opportunity for Jesus. The statement Jesus makes here seems to be odd and contradictory. It certainly appears senseless and illogical. Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” We are being called to deny ourselves to follow Jesus.
How can we possibly do this? We live in a time when we are aware that we have rights; we should be able to do and think, believe and say whatever we want when we want. We should never have to deny ourselves or be told to deny ourselves. The truth of today’s world is not to deny ourselves who we are and what we want.
But Jesus is saying something completely
different. To be a disciple of Jesus means to deny yourself. We all need to deny ourselves to follow Jesus. Jesus also says we must take up our cross and follow him. The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus brought us salvation but is also a call for us to follow him. Just as Jesus denied himself and went to the cross, so must we. The cross symbolises our willingness to surrender to Jesus and denial of self altogether. The kind of denial Jesus is asking of us is not simply a lack but a
willingness to surrender.
How can we follow Jesus without first denying (surrendering) ourselves? How do we say yes to Jesus without first saying no to ourselves, our desires, feelings and conveniences? We can’t.
Today, you are
invited to reflect on all that may be holding you back from complete surrender to Jesus. What things do you need to deny to take up your cross and follow him?
Reflections by Gillian
Hugo
