Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
He also said to them,
“Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power.”
Tanggihan ang Sarili at Sumunod sa Akin
Marcos 8:34-38, 9:1
34Pinalapit ni Jesus ang mga tao kasama ang kaniyang mga alagad at sinabi sa kanila: Ang sinumang nagnanais sumunod sa akin, tanggihan niya ang kaniyang sarili, pasanin ang kaniyang krus at sumunod sa akin.35Ito ay sapagkat ang sinumang nagnanais na magligtas ng kaniyang buhay ay mawawalan nito. Datapuwat ang sinumang mawalan ng buhay dahil sa akin at sa ebanghelyo ay maililigtas niya ito. 36Ano ang mapapakinabangan ng isang tao kung makamtan man niya ang buong sanlibutan at mawala ang kaniyang kaluluwa? 37Ano ang maibibigay ng tao bilang kapalit ng kaniyang kaluluwa? 38Ito ay sapagkat ang sinumang magkakahiya sa akin at sa aking mga salita sa harapan ng lahing ito na mapangalunya at makasalanan ay ikakahiya rin ng Anak ng Tao pagdating niya sa kaluwalhatian ng kaniyang Ama na kasama ng mga banal na anghel.
1Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila: Katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo: Mayroong ilang nakatayo rito na sa anumang paraan ay hindi makakaranas ng kamatayan hangga't hindi nila nakikita ang paghahari ng Diyos na dumating na may kapangyarihan.
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Taking up the cross daily
The cross (Greek stauros) is an ancient instrument of execution, probably originated by the Persians and often employed by the Greeks and the Romans for its deterrent value, especially against rebellious slaves and seditious provincials. The condemned, with a placard proclaiming the crime hung around his neck, would carry the crossbar (not the whole cross) to the place of his execution.
In times of siege of the city, the Romans put up upright stakes outside the city and would crucify those they caught escaping the city walls in great number. Their cries were intended to break the will of the defenders of the city. Death came slowly from the cumulative impact of thirst, hunger, exhaustion, and the traumatic effects of scourging which preceded crucifixion. Because of the protracted suffering and the extreme ignominy of this punishment, crucifixion was viewed as the supreme penalty, the “most wretched of death.”
That Christians would hold as Messiah and worship as Lord one who died on the cross was foolish and scandalous to both Jews and pagans (see 1 Cor 1:18-25). The scandal of the cross would only be removed if the meaning attached to it were completely overturned. This happened with Jesus’ resurrection. In the light of the resurrection, the death of Jesus on the cross took a salvific meaning. It was seen as an atonement, a sacrifice, Jesus’ kenosis or self-emptying, proof of God’s love for us.
Luke likens discipleship to the carrying of one’s cross daily to follow Jesus. Cross here would imply the burdens and suffering of Christian life, burdens which, however, become “light” and redemptive when carried out of love.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord
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