Francis Gayang csc –
Readings: Jer 18: 18-20; Mt 20: 17-28
Jesus makes known to his followers the death he must undergo. The ordinary followers were perplexed and unable to understand what that meant. They did not understand why Jesus talked this way until the resurrection happened.
All of us who follow Jesus, are invited to have a deep spiritual sight and not to confine ourselves only to what we see and hear. Our journey will take us to the faith of those first Christians who suffered for truth and walked in faith. Jesus came to show the way for us through suffering and death.
We too must prove faithful to him by our readiness to die to our selfishness without compromising or giving way to pleasurable desires. Jesus wishes us all to experience life in its fullness. So, he asks us to walk his ways, and imitate him even in suffering. Lenten season reminds us of this redemptive suffering.
The gift of redemption needs a positive response from our side. The words used in the Eucharistic celebration, “take this all of you and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins” reminds us of the offering Jesus placed before his disciples, “if you want to follow me you must take up your daily cross and follow me.” Let each Eucharistic celebration remind us of our call to a life of love and service.