Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB
Being a
follower of Jesus Christ is not an easy way of life. Jesus is calling us to
place Him and His teachings at the center of who we are. Following Jesus means
that we will face hardships and difficulties in our lives since other people in
our lives may not fully understand why we are attempting to live out a
Christian life.
Throughout
Jesus’ ministry, He taught His followers that the commandments are summed up in
this way: love God with your whole mind, heart and soul and to love your
neighbor as you love yourself. And how do we carry this command of love of God
and love of neighbor out in our day-to-day life?
In the
gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 25, where Jesus teaches on the final Judgement,
he gives a list of what’s to be expected of those who claim to be his
followers. “I was hungry, and you gave me food.” “I was thirsty, and you gave
me to drink.” “I was naked, and you gave me clothing.” “I was in prison and you
visited me.” In all these examples of helping other people, our Lord is
teaching us that what we do for others, we are doing for him. Seeing Jesus in
other people is not always easy. Human nature being what it is, it’s sometimes
hard to deal with people we don’t like. But by doing these good deeds to other
people is where we carry our cross. Doing good to people, especially when it’s
not convenient or easy, can be difficult. But that’s where we deny ourselves
and pick up our cross: by seeing Christ in everyone that we meet, and in this
way, we are loving God with our whole being.
Pope Francis
is quoted as saying, “Works of love directed to one's neighbor are the most
perfect external manifestation of the interior grace of the Spirit….” Let us
pick up our crosses daily by loving God and loving our neighbors.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteThe words of Our LORD about denying ourselves & taking up our Cross evoke fear, since I am afraid of suffering, afraid of what these words may entail for me & what suffering I may have to endure. I would like to find a way to accomplish doing the most good I can possibly do with as little pain & suffering & as little disruption in my life as possible.
As a Catholic Christian I want to live a life centered in CHRIST, with Our LORD at the CENTER of everything I do & say & every aspect of my life, to love GOD with my whole heart, soul, mind & strength & to love my neighbor as myself.
When I think of a cross I usually associate it with being hit with something awful like getting cancer or mental illness or dementia. But I like your perspective. So if I am understanding you correctly, taking up my Cross actually would mean being willing to love GOD & my neighbor--and love GOD IN my neighbor, loving CHRIST BY loving my neighbor--even when it requires some sort of sacrifice & trying to put the needs of others ahead of my own. Like caring for an elderly parent who is ill. Like providing transportation for a friend when it's not convenient & when it involves some juggling of my schedule & some loss of free time. Not easy but definitely part of how I have been living my life. Of course, this, too, needs the guidance & discernment of the Holy Spirit to make the right choice & know how to serve as Our LORD would have me serve under His LORDSHIP.
Good reflection, Arlene. Suffering is sometimes more than just physical suffering (per the examples you gave). Suffering is giving up what I want and being there for others who may need my help. In other people, we are to see the Lord.
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