Lent is taking up my cross

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday after Ash Wednesday, 19 February 2026
Deuteronomy30:15-20     +++     Luke 9:22-25

Can my life,
or life itself be separated
from you, my God?

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"
(Luke 9:23-24).

As I immerse myself to your
words today, Jesus,
I remember so many occasions
when I was younger always
trying to save my life,
simply clinging to my life,
or asserting my life,
that's when I lost in every count:
it seems to me now that when
we are young - and strong -
we choose ourselves more,
insist on ourselves,
even shouting deep within
"It's my life"...!

Sad truth is,
we lost always as we
felt most empty,
no direction,
no meaning
in life.
When life is too cushy,
without any problems and
challenges,
that is when life is 
deep in serious trouble.
It is not even life at all
but felt like death!

But, Lord,
I remember too 
that since I took that dive,
when I thought less of my self,
when I started following you,
of losing my life for your sake,
that was when I found meaning
and fullness in life,
when I truly save my life;
it was a bumpy road, Lord -
you know it very well
how many times I stopped along
the way to choose my own path,
even dared leaving you but
you were always there waiting
for me, walking with me even
in the opposite direction just to
bring me back to you
to gain my life in you.

Glory and praise to you,
Lord Jesus!
Your words are not 
just a rhetoric,
nor a poetic overstatement
of a guru or a teacher
but actualizing words of
the Son of God,
our Savior and Messiah;
you have given me with so much
and I have given you so little;
teach me to give more of myself
to you so that I can give myself to
others by giving more of you in
loving service.

Let me choose you always,
Jesus, for life itself cannot be
separated from you
who is life yourself.
Amen.