Take Up Your Cross

He 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.’ Mark 8:34-9:1

Today, the church celebrates the feast of the Transfiguration, a moment when Jesus' true nature was revealed to three disciples. These disciples knew him so well, and yet, they really didn't understand him fully. And we, like those three disciples, don't really understand the full reality of Jesus nor of God, the Creator. We always try to make them something familiar, something we can comprehend. Yet, we are called, not to try to understand everything (for we never really can) but instead, to give up or deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. Following demands us to not know the road ahead or the destination, but to live humbly, caring for the people on the road, loving those who are tossed aside and rejected. May we, on this feast day, deny ourselves and follow him, so the world might be transformed by love.

Loving Creator, source of all knowledge and skill

you call us to live humbly in service of others

to share what we have with those who have nothing

and to be companions to those we meet on the road.

We like the comfort of our homes and secure walls

we think we are better off when we are defended

we refuse to mix it up with those who are struggling

yet you know we are struggling and no better.

Help us, Lord, to deny ourselves and follow you

so our hearts might be broken open to your love

and your love might transform us daily for service

so your love is seen in the darkest places on earth. Amen.