Self-Denial

The Mega Millions Lottery reached a record $1.55 Billion last night.  Someone could gain the world.

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

Jesus lays it on the table with today's reading from Mark. If you want to be my disciple, he says, you have to turn your back on the world.

Could you turn your back on a billion dollars?

Would you give it all away?

Would you forfeit your life if you hold onto some of it?

What Jesus is doing here is making us think of what is most important in our existence, not just in our mortal life.  Can we think beyond death and imagine a life that doesn't end?

I would like to think that I could accept a large financial windfall and still be focused on God.  Afterall, I can remain focused on God now, having much of what i need to live comfortably.

But is that self-denial the way Jesus describes it?

Am I being enough of a disciple?

As we get older, we learn about diseases that take us down.  We find that aging is cruel, bringing with it reminders of our own mortality.

We grow more fragile, more susceptible to cancers and other demons that settle in and remind us of our limits.

At these times, we should remind ourselves that there is much more waiting for us in God's Kingdom and we shouldn't be afraid, but how hard is that?

Instead, we look for hope.  What can be done to keep us alive?

No amount of money can do that.  Nothing works forever.

At some point, our best efforts will fail and we will face the inevitable, whether we want to accept it or not.

Do we deny ourselves hope?  Or do we remain hopeful in what lies beyond the grave?

At some point, we need to ask ourselves that question.  And the answer will always be the same.  Hope is eternal, and so can we be as well.

More to come...