Sunday 2nd of April
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9: 22-25
Throughout our Lenten journey, we have reflected on the necessary characteristics of being a follower of Jesus. One of the most striking and challenging characteristics is the willingness to deny oneself and pick up our cross. And we do this in imitation of Jesus, who willingly and with great faith and acceptance embraced the father’s will for him.
There is no running away from the fact that following Jesus and picking up our cross requires work and effort on our part, as it did for Jesus. The cross was not easy for Jesus either, which is why he says that if we want to pick up our cross and follow him, we must first “deny ourselves.” What is it that we need to deny in ourselves to pick up our cross?
In this final week leading up to the passion, let us make an effort to unite ourselves to Jesus so that we can walk with him in his dying and rising.