Reflection for February 21 Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:34-9:1

Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1

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. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it. 

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” 

He also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power.”

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Reflection:

What is this cross that Jesus wants us to carry the moment we decide to follow Him? 

The cross that Jesus mentioned is the cross of suffering but let us not worry because we will not be overburdened by this cross. No matter how hard/heavy this cross will be we will be able to carry it. Why? Because Jesus will be there to help us carry it. 

It is also in carrying our life’s crosses that we will have a clearer picture of who really is Jesus. Therefore, Jesus will become more real to us because of this cross. Lest we forget, life with Jesus is not a bed of roses; it’s rather a bed of crosses. 

We therefore have to be ready to carry our own cross and let us not be afraid to carry that cross. Because life without carrying our own cross is life without Jesus. 

Are you carrying your own cross right now? If you are you have nothing to worry because Jesus’ abiding presence is with you. – Marino J. Dasmarinas