Losing my life?

‘For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for me and for the gospel, you will save it. Do you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not! There is nothing you can give to regain your life. If you are ashamed of me and of my teaching in this godless and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’     (verses 35-38)

Read Mark 8: 27 – 9:1

Today’s reading puts before us the profound way of God.
But how contradictory that way appears!
Jesus the Messiah, a king to be rejected and killed
Saint Peter as Satan Peter
forgetting self and carrying a cross
losing life to gain it.

This is to be the way for us Christians.

But wait a while! This cuts across my whole outlook. I aim to win in life, not lose. I want to avoid difficulties not welcome them. I am encouraged to be myself, develop my capacities, be an individual. I may not gain the whole world, but my aim is to have a comfortable share of it.

We need to keep the cross of Christ before all aspects of our life. There Jesus has shown us the way of God. That is the way of service to others-others who are helpless, who need to be rescued. Costly as that may be, we see in the cross how God’s love overcomes all things, especially those terrible things, sin, death and Satan. May we carry the cross of Jesus’ love for others, even when that means shame and pain.

O God, open my eyes to those around me who are suffering and need your help. Help me to forget my very self and follow the way of Jesus’ love. Amen.

by Bob Turnbull, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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