24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B, Year II)

Community Word: Honoring God’s commandments bring peace to our hearts

Theme: There is peace in our hearts when we deny ourselves and follow Christ.

Promise: “Whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” (Mk 8:35b)

Reflection:
As Christians, we know that our earthly journey is a journey of faith towards our eternal destiny of greatest joy that is, Heaven. But “the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few,” (Mt 7:14). Why is this so? Paradoxically, in today’s Gospel, Jesus defines the true disciple: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me,” (Mk 8:34).

At this point in Jesus’ ministry, he asks his disciples: “…who do you say I am?” To which Peter answers: “You are the Christ,” (Mk 8:29). Jesus wants to take this opportunity to let his disciples know that the Christ who has been performing miracles and teaching about the kingdom of God will have to suffer greatly, be rejected by men, and rise after three days. He wants them to understand that if they are to be his true disciples, they have to undergo the same suffering if they are committed to follow him and preach the gospel.St. John Paul II describes it this way, “When the cross is embraced, it becomes a sign of love and of total self-giving. To carry it behind Christ means to be united with him in offering the greatest proof of love.”It is love that motivates a person to follow the Master, but self-denial and the willingness to share the burden of His cross are proofs of that selfless love.

If anyone wants to follow Jesus to be his disciple, then he must do two things daily: to “deny himself” and “take up his cross.” To deny oneself means to say “no” to yourself and “yes” to God. The process of denial is to humbly submit one’s will to God’s will, which is what we pray when we recite the “Lord’s Prayer” – “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,”(Mt. 6:10). When Jesus tells us to pick up our cross, what he means is for us to be ready to face and bear with perseverance, the trials and difficulties that may come our way. We contend with all kinds of challenges: conflicting schedules between work and community service, family issues and financial problems, illnesses and infirmities. There are occasions when we face rejection and ridicule, not only in our mission field, but also among our friends and family, when we bring the gospel to them, or for choosing to serve the Lord, over the pursuit of fame and fortune. Carrying the cross of Jesus involves the willingness to stand up for the Truth we believe in.

Our Lord does not ask us to give up living when He invites us to “die to ourselves.” All He wants is for us to accept the newness and fullness of life that only He can give. As human beings, we have a tendency to think only in terms of ourselves and our interests. We tend to imagine that our world revolves exclusively around us, our concerns and our interests. Self-denial requires the surrender of our right to do as we please, and to place our life and our will in the hands of God. It requires the surrender of control to Christ. When someone hurts us, our natural reaction is to lash back in anger. But the path of discipleship is to remember the words of Jesus: “Not my will but yours.” Instead of getting angry or vengeful we realize that God is calling us to forgive even our enemies. Jesus is asking us to deny ourselves of the fleeting pleasure of sin which robs us of peace of Christ in our hearts.

The struggles and challenges we face in our journey through life are sources of strength and power for as long as we look up to Jesus on the cross and join our suffering with his. Everyday we have to die to ourselves, to die to our selfish ways and ambitions and to die to our sins and live for God. When we suffer for and with Christ, we experience his powerful and abiding presence in our lives as we are assured by these words: “Whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” (Mk 8:35b). Like Christ, we will rise in glory and gain eternal life in God’s kingdom.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we know that denying oneself and carrying our cross daily is not an easy thing to do. Because of our fallen nature, we have the tendency to follow our instincts rather than do your will. Merciful Jesus, grant us the grace to always seek your Holy Will in every challenge and difficulty that we face in our earthly journey. Following you, Jesus, more closely and loving you more dearly give us the strength to die to ourselves, and fill our hearts with peace, knowing that you are always beside us and you will never ever leave us.

Reflection Questions:
1. Do I understand well the consequence of my baptism as a Christian and follower of Christ?
2. What are some situations I am facing at the moment that I need to surrender to God and follow His will for my life?
3. Am I ready to give up my attachments to worldly possessions, priorities and ambitions and instead focus more attention to loving God and others?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
Sept16, 2018 (Sun) – Is 50:5-9/Ps 116:1-6, 8, 9/Jas 2:14-18/Mk 8:27-35
Sept17, 2018 (Mon) -1Cor 11:28-26, 33/Ps 40:7-10, 17/Luke 7:1-10
Sept18, 2018 (Tue) – 1Cor 12:12-14, 27-31/Ps 100:1-5/Lk 7:11-17
Sept19, 2018 (Wed) -1Cor 12:31-13:13/Ps 33:2-5, 12, 22/Lk 7:31-35
Sept20, 2018 (Thu) – 1Cor 15:1-11/Ps 118:1, 2, 16, 17, 28/Lk 7:36-50
Sept21, 2018 (Fri) -Eph4:1-7, 11-13/Ps 19:2-5/Mt 9:9-13
Sept22, 2018 (Sat) -1Cor 15:35, 36, 37.42-49/Ps 56:10-14/Lk 8:4-15

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”