"Claim the Cross: Follow"
"If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me."
Matthew 16:24
Prayer:
Almighty God, you who continually call your people to yourself, draw us by the power of your Holy Spirit into such a warm and binding relationship that we may faithfully follow you all the days of our lives. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture readings:
Sunday: Matthew 16:24-28
Monday: John 1:35-46
Tuesday: Luke 9:57-62
Wednesday: Matthew 10:34-42
Thursday: Luke 18:35-43
Friday: Matthew 19:16-30
Saturday: John 10:22-30
Hear my prayer, O Lord, those I offer for myself and for others.
_________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________, _________________________, __________________________,
Almighty God, down through the ages you have called out men and women to be your faithful servants. You now call us to join that great company who seek to follow you. Grant us a clear vision and the strength to fulfill our service to you. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Reflection:
What a crazy way to start a religious movement. In Matthew's gospel, these words of Jesus follow right after Jesus has explained to his disciples that he must return to Jerusalem and Peter, aware of the danger, tries to talk him out of it. They argue and Jesus rebukes him "Get behind me Satan."
Then Jesus goes further and tells his disciples that to be his followers they must deny themselves and take up a cross. Who wants to do that? Talk about a radical, difficult message. With self-denial being a central tenant of Christianity, how did the church ever survive and grow? Is it possible that self-denial and taking up a cross transcends day-to-day life? Is it possible that in those rare moments that my concern for others overtakes my concern for self that something divine is happening? Is it possible that when I take action to help those Jesus seems most concerned about (the sick, the poor, the marginalized), that I am finding life? Are those moments the times that I am actually drawing closer to Christ?
I am going to ponder these questions through the rest of lent and beyond.
P.S. I'm writing this the day after President Trump has declared a national emergency and Sunday corporate worship has been cancelled at Spring Valley for the first time in my memory. My understanding is that this reflection will be circulated a little over a week from now. By then who knows where the current crises will stand. Whatever has transpired my guess is that I will be struggling not to let self-concern prevent me from living true life.
- Paul Ledbetter