Friday 21st of February
“Anyone who loses his life for my sake will save it.”
Mark 8:34-9:1
Jesus is speaking to his disciples and also to the people who were following him. There are no distinctions, and the “demands” are the same for all. Firstly, it is an invitation to follow him. And it implies our willingness, “If anyone wants to be my follower…” We need to ask ourselves: Do I really want to follow Jesus? Then, it follows to “forget oneself.” What does this mean? Love implies this forgetting of ourselves for Jesus. It’s an attitude of making Jesus more the centre of my life and not “me”.
Then, it follows to take up the cross. Each of us will have some kind of suffering on a personal level, or in our family life or with friends. Taking it up means not to run away or avoid the cross. How do you take up your cross in daily life? Does Jesus’ suffering, dying and rising give you meaning in times of difficulties or challenges? And finally, we can follow Jesus.