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." (Lk 9:23)
Lent started yesterday. With ashes on forehead, we commenced our period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving; we committed to walking this way of the Cross, to this 40-day, penitential time of following after Jesus. We all have different crosses to bear; they come in different sizes: death of a loved one, financial struggle, illness, poverty, war, depression, anxiety, marital strife, addiction... each person struggling under the weight of their specific life situation. We have a choice to make- we can focus on the magnitude of the cross or we can accept the challenge Jesus offers: if we wish to come after Him, we must deny ourselves, take up that cross and follow Him. He walked that Way; He suffered and died and triumphed! He is the Way!
May God give us the strength to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus during these days of Lent; may we grow under the mercy and love He lavishes on us through our trials; may our daily sacrifices be our Thank you to God for all He has done for us.
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