Almost every line in today’s Gospel is a warning from Jesus. We have all heard that we should take up our cross. We have all heard or even said ourselves, “That is their cross to bear.” We understand the weight of the cross in human terms, that it would be heavy and cause splinters in our hands. That it might dig into our shoulders or cut into our face as we try to hold it up, let alone trying to walk with it. We comprehend the cross in physical human terms because we have prayed the Stations of the Cross, but Jesus said these words (“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”) well before he took up his physical cross.
Jesus is asking us to take up a spiritual cross. We try to be good Christians, following Jesus’s teachings to lead a good life. We embrace the Ten Commandments and go to church. But Jesus is asking for more than that. He is asking everything of us, but he gives so much more back to us in return. Jesus offers eternal life to those who deny themselves to follow Jesus fully.
At the end of this passage, Jesus drops this confusing last line: “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” What does that mean exactly? If we are truly following Jesus, then there will be no death, only eternal life. But he is warning of the bitter taste of death if we choose not to follow Him.
If we truly hope for eternal life with the Father, then we must heed the Son. We must do what Jesus asks of us in this passage and throughout Scripture. We are to give ourselves over to Jesus. Read Scripture, participate in the sacraments, volunteer as Jesus asked by taking care of the sick, the elderly, the poor, and the incarcerated. Stretch yourself beyond what you think you have time for or what you think you are capable of to become a more active part of the Body of Christ in His Church, in your family, and in your community. Deny yourself, take up your cross, lose your life as you know it, and follow Him.
Casi cada línea del Evangelio de hoy constituye una advertencia de Jesús. Todos hemos escuchado que debemos tomar nuestra cruz. Todos hemos oído, o incluso hemos dicho nosotros mismos: “Esa es la cruz que le toca cargar”. Comprendemos el peso de la cruz en términos humanos: que va a ser pesada y nos puede clavar astillas en las manos; que podría hundirse en nuestros hombros o cortarnos el rostro mientras intentamos sostenerla, por no hablar de intentar caminar con ella. Entendemos la cruz en términos físicos y humanos porque hemos rezado el Vía Crucis; sin embargo, Jesús pronunció estas palabras (“El que quiera venir conmigo, que renuncie a sí mismo, que tome su cruz y me siga”) mucho antes de tomar sobre sí su cruz física.
Jesús nos pide que tomemos una cruz espiritual. Intentamos ser buenos cristianos, siguiendo las enseñanzas de Jesús para llevar una vida recta. Acogemos los Diez Mandamientos y asistimos a la iglesia. Pero Jesús nos pide algo más que eso. Nos lo pide todo, pero a cambio nos devuelve mucho más. Jesús ofrece la vida eterna a aquellos que se niegan a sí mismos para seguirlo plenamente.
Al final de este pasaje, Jesús deja caer esta última frase desconcertante: “Yo les aseguro que algunos de los aquí presentes no morirán, sin haber visto primero llegar al Hijo del hombre como rey”. ¿Qué significa eso exactamente? Si verdaderamente seguimos a Jesús, entonces no habrá muerte, sino vida eterna. Pero Él nos advierte de la muerte si elegimos no seguirlo.
Si verdaderamente anhelamos la vida eterna junto al Padre, entonces debemos hacerle caso al Hijo. Debemos hacer lo que Jesús nos pide en este pasaje y a lo largo de toda la Escritura. Debemos entregarnos por completo a Jesús. Lee las Escrituras, participa en los sacramentos, ofrece tu servicio voluntario —tal como pidió Jesús— cuidando a los enfermos, a los ancianos, a los pobres y a los encarcelados. Vete más allá de lo que crees tener tiempo para hacer o de lo que consideras capaz de lograr, para convertirte en una parte más activa del Cuerpo de Cristo: en tu Iglesia, en tu familia y en tu comunidad. Niégate a ti mismo, toma tu cruz, pierda tu vida tal como la conoces, y sígalo.
Anita Renaghan is the author of several books including literary fiction, science fiction, and a young adult trilogy. She loves a good character study and has been many characters herself including: an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force, a college graduate, a second degree blackbelt, lost, a waitress and bartender, a wife and mother, an account executive, found, and a constantly inventive singer-songwriter. Anita is interested in sharing her faith with others through her writings and story characters. Her website is anitarenaghan.com
Feature Image Credit: Dolina Modlitwy, unsplash.com/photos/a-person-holding-a-rosary-with-a-cross-on-it-CCC0CdEsI7E
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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