Prayer: Come, O Jesus, help me to find true life.
Imagination: (Picture Jesus explaining to his disciples what is required of them.)
Context:
Matthew, Mark and Luke all record this saying of Jesus that a disciple must
“take up his cross.” Obviously, these important words are an excellent summary
of being a disciple.
Gospel Text (Read slowly, possibly aloud.)
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life, will lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it.
Thoughts: (Read all. Ponder the ones that attract you.)
- In Israel, family relationships had the highest priority.
- Jesus changes that. Even family relationships must not be an obstacle
between the disciple and Jesus. - “Taking up the cross’ means accepting the difficulties of Jesus’ missionary apostolate. The Kingdom must be preached and obstacles set aside.
- The disciple’s final sacrifice is life itself.
- How can Jesus make such demands? He is God and offers you eternal life.
Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.)
- Jesus, how can I love anyone (even myself) more than you?
- I trust you, Jesus. I believe your word and your promises.
- You come first, Jesus. No one else is King and Lord of my life.
- I am coming, Jesus. I will follow you no matter what the cost.
- I give you my life. My whole life. Every moment. Every day. A total giving.
- In losing my life, I find a reason to be alive.
- Jesus, what do you give me? Everything!
Resolutions: (Possibly you might want to make your own.)
- I will entrust my life, with all its decision, into Jesus’ hands.
- Today, I will accept the sacrifices needed to follow Jesus.
Thought for the day: (To recall your meditation)
Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.