Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:34).
Our life is not about us, about what we can accumulate. It is not about placing as our primary goal, achieving power, fame, wealth, and pursuing pleasure. Nor are we here on this earth to merely exist, to just get by, and live in survival mode. We exist to be loved by God and to love others as we have been loved.
The challenge before us, is, are we willing to truly deny ourselves, take up the cross of Jesus, and follow him? Are we willing to change the question and process of discernment from asking what we want to do, so instead to ask, “God, what do you want me to do?” How and in what way does he want us to serve and participate in his plan?
As we draw closer to the season of Lent, which begins March 2, Jesus’ invitation and these questions are a good way to ponder and begin to prepare.
Spiritual Stepping Stones