23 February, 2023 | Thursday after Ash Wednesday

 Gospel:  Luke 9: 22-25  

Jesus said to his disciples:

"The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected

by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,

and be killed and on the third day be raised."

Then he said to all,

"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself

and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world

yet lose or forfeit himself?"

Reflection: 

 Notice here Jesus’ sensitivity in telling us of his own sufferings before asking us to take up ours. The path of suffering is a lonely and dark one, but the blessing from this gospel is to know that we are not alone. We have a companion as we stumble through ‘the valley of darkness’.  Jesus has already walked this way before us. He is beside us constantly. We can let him hold us by the hand. This doesn’t take away the pain, but helps us to bear it more patiently. In today’s world many people take “selfy” of themselves on their phones, to send to others. This is the outward self. There is the hidden self that will never feature on a phone. It is with God who sees the heart. As we follow Jesus, let our heart be ever energized in love and justice.

Activity: 

 Thank God for his unmerited and unconditional love. Do you see God as a beloved parent, and others as your brothers and sisters? If you do so, share your thoughts with others.

Pray the Way of the Cross

BIBLICAL STATIONS OF THE CROSS

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