Tuesday, October 15, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Luke 9:18–27

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” (NRSV)

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Reflection

Discernment is an essential tool of our discipleship. As disciples we seek to follow God in the way of Jesus, but it is possible to focus on the external image of following God and not pay attention to the internal heart of the matter.

When Jesus took up his cross, it wasn’t because he thought that suffering or pain would make him more pure. Instead, he suffered because he insisted on doing the right thing: loving those who had been excluded; healing community where it had been fractured; and resisting the cruelty of the Roman rulers in his land. Because of that the Romans forced him to carry a cross and killed him on it.

Perhaps picking up and carrying our own crosses means being committed to doing the right thing, even when it is hard, even when those with more power than we try to frighten us or pressure us to do the easy thing instead of the right thing.

Picking up our crosses is not for the purpose of denying ourselves joy or pleasure. It is for the purpose of loving the world with every ounce of will and conviction that we can muster. It means not giving up when we face injustice. Picking up the cross is not surrender. It is resistance born of love.

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Prayer
Holy God, you are the Prince of Peace, the true King of the world. Strengthen me with the love and joy of Jesus so that I can persevere in the race that you have given me to run. Amen.

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Written by Nanette Sawyer, Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Small Group Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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