"Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Pretty tough words, since we have all had promises broken, have been betrayed and have had our share of disillusionment. Our instinct for survival fights fiercely against any threat to our identity and our existence. So we can easily become frustrated, cynical and totally self-absorbed.
All of the forces of modern science and technology, all of the sophisticated developments in the field of psychology combine to teach us to love self, to cultivate a strong self-image, to resist and overcome anything that would diminish the quality of our lives. There's nothing wrong with having this kind of attitude. It makes for healthy and whole human beings.
And yet, Jesus is saying that when we choose to follow him we must act immediately. There's no looking back and there's no going back. It is this kind of commitment that is put to the test by the trials of everyday life - sickness, failure, natural disasters, scandal, the death of our loved ones. We come to understand what "dying to self" means when our patience is tried to the breaking point by a rebellious teenager, or an irresponsible spouse. We are asked to give up our own lives in favor of a dying parent, or a victim of racist bigotry, or someone close to us who is being destroyed by drugs, alcohol, or abuse.
We all need to reflect on how seriously we are working at the conversion the Gospel demands of us and the change of heart that will eliminate selfishness, pride and worldliness in our lives. But we need to do more than that.
We should act with the courage and the strength to be the prophetic presence in the world that Jesus calls us to be - to cry out for peace and justice, to be the voice of the poor and the helpless, to speak out against waste and pollution, to reach out to support those struggling with abuse, and to be God's instruments of comfort and healing in these days when so many in the human family are beset by terrible suffering and anxiety.
This is not a part-time job. This is not something we do only on Sunday at church or occasionally by doing a few good deeds during the week. Taking up the cross isn't a part-time practice we do on Good Friday, or when we are feeling strong and resilient. Nor is sacrifice in Jesus' name something reserved for some specially selected martyrs whose names are inscribed on Christian monuments.
To live the Gospel is to be identified totally with Jesus. Taking up the cross is part and parcel of the lives of all who follow him. Understanding this is the only way that we can really become a sacred presence to others.
Anything less is a betrayal, a denial of what Jesus intended us to be.
