Description
Matthew 16:21-28
Have you ever thought about the fact that if we were able to just skate through life without experiencing pain, sorrow, challenges, and difficulties, we would not see and experience God’s power in action? We would only be relying on ourselves and nothing else. I am reminded of the first two steps of AA: 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable. 2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. As we examine the Gospel text for today, it is clear that we are called to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. We are called to bear certain crosses and lose hold of our lifestyle and in essence, our very life. It is Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross that enables us to actually follow through and do what we cannot do on our own. As we walk through life filled with life’s toil, we participate with Jesus and walk with him – bearing the cross–and it is his strength that bears the weight of what we carry. The great preacher said it so well: “We say, “But, Lord, I cannot.” And God says, “I’m glad to hear you say that. Through you, I can.”
