Courage

When Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow Him, we may respond weakly. We may even respond weekly! But I'm more and more certain that his beckoning is to full surrender, not partial. Instead of being slaves to sin and worldliness, we have to forge a different path, toward "perfection" in God's terms, not those of the world. When we whine that "we're only human" he is not glorified. We are made in the image and likeness of God, our father, so we are to grow into full adulthood as His sons, following the modelling of our brother Jesus. He is our Lord and Savior, but he doesn't want to carry us. He wants us to assume our full stature as children of the Father. Then we can be the co-creators we are called to be. This is why we must surrender all. All the Thee, our Blessed Savior.

The best attitude model for us is Peter. He may have been flawed, but he alone got out of the boat to join Jesus walking on the water. He alone, following the prompting of the Holy Spirit, was first to identify Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the Living God". Jesus chose Peter upon which to build His church, not for his intellect, but for his courageous heart. Even when he faltered in the Garden of Gethsemane and later in the courtyard where the mob took Jesus, he showed courage. He was afraid and he faltered, similarly to when he tried walking on water, but he took himself to the edge of his courage and beyond. Are we following Peter's example?

The most courageous act of courage was Jesus going to Calvary. He showed the apostles what it meant to pick up their cross and follow Him. Then they picked up their crosses, and with the strength of the helper given them at Pentecost, they carried it to their own deaths.

Are you ready to give all? All means all, you know. Are you courageous in speaking the truth to the world about our Lord? Are you courageous at your workplace, or just in your church? Are you courageous in your own family? Are you courageous in your intention to go on to perfection?

Stand firm, warriors for Christ. He'll help you. Be brave. Follow Him, wherever He leads, with your whole heart. Nothing less will do.

Take up your cross?

This morning's homily at Epiphany reviewed the Transfiguration. It got me thinking about what Our Lord really expects from us. When He was asked that question, He said that we were to Love God with all our heart, strength and mind, and our neighbor as our self. But he also said if we were to follow Him, we had to take up our cross.

The cross He carried he died on. So, I believe His commandment is plainly that we are to die for Him. Nothing less. The dying He intends is dying to self, first and foremost. But not that alone. When we are born of the Spirit, we are new creatures. We come to know that we are His and, over time if not immediately, we grow to know what He created us to do. That is our cross. Once we know, we are to pursue His path for us, not our own, we become slaves to His purpose. We follow Him and serve Him only. In doing so, He will take care of our needs. He reminds us that He takes care of the birds and the grass, and will take care of us as well. A slave depends on his master for everything. And, a good slavemaster provides.

This is our task. We must only and always serve Him. We have been called to a simple life of sacrifice. It involves taking up our cross, on which we will die, and it leads to Resurrection and eternal life.

Sweet.