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February 18, 2021I once heard a priest say that we should not begin to do something new for Lent or give up candy and the like. He said that we should strive to do better what we already do. It sounded like good advice at the time. Now, with this year’s long, deep and widespread suffering from the pandemic and all the stressful issues that plague our nation and our world, it makes more sense. Lent need not add to our existing crosses.
In the gospel, Jesus says that if we want to come after him, we must deny ourselves. This may sound daunting, but Jesus is asking us to consider how we spend our time and resources. Do we have too much me-time and not enough others time? God’s will and our wills can be miles apart. Lent invites us to close the gap. Perhaps the time and resources we spend on our wants can be opportunities to help others with needs. This is not an invitation to add to your already busy lives. It is the desire of Jesus that we reach out to others as a way to follow him. Jesus is not commanding this of us. He says that IF we want to come after him… This is our choice.
Following this invitation, Jesus says what could be read as another difficult task. He speaks another invitation. This time it is to take up our crosses daily and follow him. We carry several crosses in of ours daily lives, but we also carry the cross of Jesus. Jesus’ cross is the cross of our salvation – a reason for joy and peace. These deep-down feelings give us the perseverance to deal with our crosses and help us to choose life. It is the cross that helps us to deny ourselves gladly and walk in God’s ways so that others may have life. Jesus is always about making life better for us, so that we are better for others. Let that good news sink in this Lent.
