Mark 8:34-9:1
Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Gifts Given and Received
Imagine that you are one of the Wise Ones at Epiphany offering a special gift to Jesus. What if your gift was the most precious thing you could offer, your life? Your liberty, memory, understanding, your entire will, all that you have and call your own.
Now imagine that Jesus gives a gift to you, with a note attached. What if Jesus simply hands your life back to you? Then you look at the note and it says “Follow Me.”
This Gospel passage evokes dread; do we literally have to die? St. Ignatius framed Jesus’ message in terms of a gift, freely and happily given, with Jesus giving back the chance to flourish in earthly and eternal ways.
I’ve never been able to offer that gift without interior reservation. But they say that the desire for the desire is a beginning.
—Allain Andry is the Charlotte coordinator for Contemplative Leaders in Action, an Ignatian spirituality and leadership program organized by the Office of Ignatian Spirituality. He is also a spiritual director and OCIA leader at St. Peter Catholic Church in Charlotte, NC, the Jesuit parish in the Diocese of Charlotte.
Prayer
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and all my will – all that I have and possess.
You, Lord, have given all to me. I now give it back to you, O Lord. All of it is yours. Dispose of it according to your will.
Give me love of yourself along with your grace, for that is enough for me.
—Suscipe prayer of St. Ignatius (George Ganss, SJ, translation)
Pray with the Pope
The Holy Father’s Monthly Prayer Intentions Brought to you by Apostleship of Prayer the first Friday of each month.