What does it mean to deny ourself? To take our cross?
Some have understood this to mean we must denigrate ourself. We must deny ourself the good things in life. Consider ourselves lessor or seek to demote ourselves among others.
But that is just the opposite of what we are called to do.
We are children of God, made in his image. He tells us that we should love others as we love ourselves which assumes we do truly love ourselves.
No, the direction to deny ourself is really to make sure we are not the center of our life. We are to place God at the center and then live a holy life centered on Jesus Christ and his teachings.
I am an introvert by nature and it is natural for me to not want to promote myself or be the light in a room. I recoil from the prospect. I do not want to shine for who I am. I do not want to stand up in front of hundreds or thousands of people and speak.
But when Christ is our center… we come to speak because it is not our light we are shining. It is Christ’s. And if we say yes to his calling and yes to follow him the. We will go nowhere we would want to go if we were the center but where he wants us to go.
So, I do stand up and with the Holy Spirit to guide me and Christ to shine forth I will do that which is not my nature at all. But it is his nature and it is his calling to me … and to you… to shine the light given us to others. That is truly loving others as we love ourselves for we want all to bask in his light and be part of the kingdom of God.
To shine the light given to us instead of hiding it away.
To center our life around Jesus rather than ourselves.
That is the message today.
Jesus died for us. He loves us so greatly it is a light that shines in every pore and cell in our body. It covers our nakedness and weakness. It provides all.
Let us the. Open our mouth today and speak his words. Let us shine forth his light.
For we no longer live as we once did. Now we live for Christ who is our center and focus.
Gospel
Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”
Deacon Tony Pynes 
Leave a comment