Then after three days he will be raised to life.” Jesus also said to all the people, “If you wish
to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me!
For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you
will save it.What does it profit you to gain the whole world, if you destroy or damage yourself?
Reflect
“A steadfast heart.” In this season of Lent, we pray for the grace that we may be given a
heart that is steadfast. A steadfast heart is the one that can endure daily difficulties.
Unwavering. The Book of Deuteronomy, in the first reading, invites us to love the Lord
through the decisions we make every day – between life and death, between blessing
and curse. This passage from Deuteronomy invites us to have a steadfast heart, one
that listens and does not turn away from the Lord. Today’s Gospel narrates the condition
of discipleship in the context of the Lucan version of the first prediction of Jesus’ passion.
The challenge to whoever wishes to follow Jesus is self-denial and the taking up of one’s
cross daily. Daily connotes a certain duration. Daily implies endurance. Taking up one’s
cross every day indicates challenges that go even beyond this season of Lent.
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