Self Denial

Today’s Gospel Text:  "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."

23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Luke 9:22-25

Reflection: What do we accept about ourselves that we are at the same time called by Jesus to deny in ourselves?

A profound reflection about ourselves could send shivers down our spine in the light of what is demanded of us: “let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (vs. 23c)

We accept that we are called to survive and all the activities that help our survival become our right by virtue of our birth in this world.

This could include the right to food, water, job, wealth, education, acquiring means for survival, leisure, family, get married and have children, have friends, express ourselves in truth, etc. etc.

So we have these human rights and obligations which no one can deny us, especially those in authority need to dispense these rights to their subjects over whom they rule. 

In this there is no exception to the rule and no one has the right, even in the name of religion to deny anyone the legitimate human rights.

But in the light of the gospel exhortation, we are called to, on our own, to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow him. 

In the light of the above rights and needs, denying ourselves can be even termed in human terms a suicidal mission and that is exactly what the Gospel ultimately demands of the true and Dedicated Disciple through its commitment of service to the truth of the Gospel. 

It is ultimately not a mission to commit suicide but a mission to seek the higher and real life by denying ourselves daily the pleasures we think that help in survival but in reality destroy us and our humanity. 

As if denying ourselves is not a cross enough, Jesus further invites us to carry our cross daily and what is more even invites us to add to our burden by following him.  It is not a following as meant in mere walking behind but following as in every step of the master, unto the cross.

May the special grace of lent strengthen each one of us to diligently carry on with dedication and zeal to deny ourselves in the school of mortification and self-abandonment.

Prayer:  Help me Lord to deny myself the many pleasures of life and to seek you with all my strength, might, heart and mind.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us