GOSPEL

“Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it”

From the Gospel according to Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

The Gospel of the Lord

Full-time.

What characterizes a disciple of Jesus? Three things: that he denies himself, takes up his cross every day, and follows him. What characterizes the one who is not? That he dedicates his life to saving himself. It is the Lord who sets the rules.

And you? Do you want to be a genuine disciple of Jesus?

Applied to Married Life:

Emilia: This Lent, I ask the Lord to be His disciple full-time. I’ve realized how often throughout the day I’m still preoccupied with myself—whether it’s pondering why you communicated something, how it was expressed, or why certain preferences or needs of mine weren’t considered. It’s quite overwhelming! I suspect I’m my own disciple, as I’m still following my own inclinations.

James: What a good reflection, Emilia. Thanks. It serves like a wonderful motivation to desire to forget about myself. Following oneself only results in having a foolish follower, and I don’t want to lose my life foolishly. So, this Lent, I’m signing up to be a disciple of Jesus full-time.

Emilia: Thank you, James. Today I give myself to you. And tomorrow, I hope to do the same, and the day after…

James: Today, I give myself to you, and tomorrow and the day after…

Mother,

We are disciples of Jesus. That’s what we say. Help us this Lent to truly be His disciples