Thursday, May 11, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading
Luke 9:18–27

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” (NRSV)

Reflection
In one episode of the documentary series The Story of the Jews, historian Simon Schama takes us to an early twentieth-century Jewish community living under constant intimidation. We are led to the brink of hopelessness when Schama disrupts the storyline with . . . a wedding! Dancing and celebration, faith and fearlessness, all taking place under the eyes of the authorities — these express the indomitable spirit of God’s people. Fear becomes fearlessness. Hopelessness turns to hope.

Now picture Jesus, navigating the threat of Roman coercion, instructing his disciples to pick up and carry a known and feared instrument of imperial torture, every single day. “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” His message is transformational because it insists on pursuing peace over violence. How to achieve this? What kind of faith and inner peace would that require? Let’s explore the three steps Jesus lays out here.

First, what if denying oneself means denying the emotional tug of retribution, the appeal of hatred, or even the lure of martyrdom? Never lash out against an oppressor, but turn the cheek. Doesn’t this interpretation signal a crucial first step away from conflict and toward peace?

Second, by instructing followers to take up a cross, Jesus transforms the Roman tool of execution into a symbol of eternal life. Evoking Isaiah, this is a swords-into-ploughshares lesson. Take a tool of tyranny and change its purpose, all for the advancement of God’s kingdom.

How, then, do we follow him? For starters, we can work to change any negative, fearful crosses of life into symbols of hope. Picture the students who, in 1960, undertook the intentionally nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins: they succeeded because they were mentally prepared to meet conflict with inner strength. Our faith is a belief that he is risen and holds a place for us. Are we sufficiently fearless to transcend the divisiveness that pervades our world? Will we deny ourselves so that we may take up the cross daily?

Prayer
Heavenly Creator and Redeemer, help us seek ways to serve as instruments of thy peace. Thy will be done. Amen.

Written by Sarah Forbes Orwig, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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