FRIDAY AUGUST 9, 2024
FRIDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
St Theresa Benedicta of the Cross, V.M (Opt. Mem.)
Nahum 1:15: 2:2; 3:1-3.6-7
Matthew 16:24-28
ACCEPTING AND EMBRACING THE LIFE JESUS CALLS US INTO.
The call to become a disciple of Jesus comes with its conditions and price. The requirements are actually very demanding and not at all attractive as anyone may suppose.
Three conditions are necessary and must be accepted and fulfilled as prerequisites to becoming disciples of Jesus. And they are spelt out in the gospel of today as the following.
1. Deny yourself
2. Take up your cross.
3. Follow me.
These three conditions or prerequisites go together and often demand a form of selflessness and giving out of one’s time, talent and resources.
Jesus demands first that his intending follower must deny one self. This entails emptying of one’s self, forgetting one’s pride, happiness and pleasure. It demands focusing on divine will and readiness to obey divine will, promptness to carry out instructions no matter how difficult and stressful it may be. It begins with the willing heart and on it considers never one’s interests, pleasure or convenience. It is more of fulfilling God’s ways and God’s ordinances.
The second condition is carrying one’s cross. This also means acceptance of adverse conditions. The cross represents more the thorny aspects of living, the inconveniences in life and living, the conditions that brings more sorrows than joy. It means the acceptance of suffering, pains, even up to bodily discomforts, psychological difficulties and physical conditions that may be stressful and inimical to living and conditions. The cross is not something sweet but rather something bitter and sour. It brings pains and suffering of all kinds. It could come from an enemy. It could be conditions adverse to good living, it could be persecutions from adversaries, it could equally be inflicted with the permission of our God for one reason or another that we may never be able to comprehend at this time.
The third condition is following Jesus and doing his will. It begins from submission of one’s wills and desires. And follows with acceptance of God’s will and desires. It continues with a consistent and forthright spirit of contending each day with holding on to this. It demands discipline, seriousness and faith in God. Following Jesus not only in good times but also in bad times. We must learn to be submissive to him, to listen to his instruction in solitude and quietness. It means upholding the desires of our God against our own desires. It involves our total commitment, surrender and faith in the guiding hand and ordering from our God. It demands our total self giving and sacrifice.
Heavenly Father, in calling us to follow you, you have designed the best life for us. May we never renegade in accepting our calling and following your ways. Lead us, guide us, teach us and help us to submit to your wills and desires. Empower us and promote us in our spiritual journey and life. Bless our lives and May nothing ever stop or block us from walking with you into eternal happiness and life through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
