THURSDAY REFLECTION
THURSDAY 11 February 2016
Scripture: Luke 9:22- 25 (Anyone who loses their life for my sake that person will save it) Reflection
Jesus in this passage of scripture puts before his disciples and us the cost of discipleship. Jesus outlines the way he will take and then asks us the all important question which he leaves us free to choose if we want to follow him. ‘The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day. If anyone wants to be a follower of mine let him renounce himself and take up his cross everyday and follow me’. ‘For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it, but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that person will save it’. ‘What gain, then, is it for a person to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self. ‘This Gospel passage at the beginning of Lent invites us to reflect on our journey of faith begun in Baptism, with our ‘yes’ to be a follower of Jesus and our reaffirmation of this ‘yes’ in the sacrament of Confirmation. The question we can ask ourselves in this season of Lent, How faithful have we been in following Jesus and carrying our daily cross? That daily cross whatever it maybe, a hurting marriage or
family relationship. Difficulty in finding a job. Challenging financial matters for parents to care and educate their children. Maybe an illness you have to bear that brings pain each day.
Possibly feeling lost and despairing that things in life are too challenging.
Perhaps having lost our way in life and feeling God has abandon us. Or even put down our cross at the side of the road and followed the way of the world. Lent is the season of God’s favour and grace towards us his adopted children through baptism whom he loves. No matter where we are at this time on our journey of faith, lent is a time of new beginnings. This Lent is a special one in the Jubilee Year of Mercy. God invites us to receive his merciful love and forgiveness as we come to the sacrament of confession and humbly repent of our sins. Repentance means reconciling with God and our brothers and sisters. Repentance means choosing once again the path of the cross in loosing our life for Christ’s sake and saving our lives.
Practical Suggestions: Spend some time in prayer and reflection affirming your faith and hope in God’s merciful love. Humbly ask forgiveness of God or anyone you are not at peace with.
Prayer: Lord God help me to choose your way that strengthens my relationship with you. May I take up my daily cross and carry it with you with courage. May I reject the shallow values of the world and understand that to gain the whole world and lose my soul would profit me
nothing. Amen