Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”
All the elements necessary for our Lenten journey seem to be contained in this one passage from Luke: “deny yourself”, “take up your cross”, “lose yourself.” The most important, though is “follow me.” By making daily sacrifices for the sake of others we can mirror – in a very small way – the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. We “lose our life” when we put the needs of others before our own needs and desires. And in doing so we will begin to discover the true life He calls us to – a life of generosity and love; a life focused on the people around us instead of on ourselves.
CHALLENGE: Today, so something special for someone close to you. Maybe you empty the dishwasher without being asked, carry in the groceries, walk the dog, or make time for a conversation you’ve been putting off. And as you make that small sacrifice today, offer a quick prayer to Jesus that He will help you see additional opportunities to “deny yourself” and follow Him throughout Lent.
Lord, help me to love the people around me today, and in sacrificing my desires for the needs of others lead me to a better understanding of the sacrifice you made for me. Amen.
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