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Gospel Reading for August 9, 2024 – Matthew 16: 24-28
SELF-DENIAL
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
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In Christian parlance, SELF-DENIAL is SACRIFICE – restraining or limiting ourselves to personal desires/wants. When our desires/wants go unrestrained, it is when evil creeps in; we start not to care about the needs of others and instead become very greedy, making mammon our god; we start not to care that we are stepping on someone else’s foot or causing injustice; we start to abuse our health with vices; we start to abuse people who work for us and cause suffering not only to them but their families as well; we do not care to besmirch another person’s reputation as long as it makes us look better; and so much more . . .
This is why SELF-DENIAL is a “must” if we wish to follow Jesus. SELF-DENIAL purifies not only our body but also our soul. It prepares us for eternal life with God!
Lord Jesus, may we pratice self-denial not only during the Lenten Season, but everyday of our lives!
