Last week we heard Peter declare, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” which pleased Jesus because he knew that his heavenly Father had told Peter this, and Peter listened. Then this week we have the very next passage from Matthew where Jesus tells the disciples what is going to happen – Jesus is to suffer, be tortured and killed… and will rise again. What a shift in emotions for the disciples and especially for Peter! But through this story, there is an important message for the disciples and for us today. There is a message of trust, letting go and of transformation, let’s take a look.

Jesus makes a three-part statement to the disciples that caught my ear. It is one that we have all heard before, but I found myself thinking about it this week. He says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must…

• Deny himself
• Take up his cross
• And follow me.”

Let’s look at each of these. First, we must “deny ourselves.” What does that mean? Well it’s not saying that we shouldn’t love ourselves, but it is saying that we need to be transformed, to change who we are and our priorities. In the second reading from Saint Paul to the Romans (one of my all-time favorites), St Paul says, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” Society, social media, and the entertainment we watch does much to “conform” us to what the world says is important. Society, and the world, tells us what we need, what we should desire, how to fit in. It shows us an easier path to follow than the one laid out by Jesus. But Saint Paul’s plea to us starts with, “I urge you brothers and sisters…” because he knows the empty promises that are presented to us. Paul recognizes, as Jesus tells us in the Gospel, that we need to deny ourselves and thus deny what the world says is important so that we can focus on God’s will for our lives instead.

OK, deny what the world says is important so we can focus on what God says is important.

In the second part of that statement from Jesus, he says we must, “take up his cross.” Now what does that mean for us? We aren’t physically carrying a cross, but we do carry burdens, shame, challenges, and life’s weight on our backs. And, at times, society takes pot shots at us because of our faith. But do we carry these crosses alone? Well, we try to… until we remember that He will carry it with us. He has walked this earth, so he knows what the world throws at us. He saw the challenges his mother and father endured for his sake, and he saw also how they turned to God for help. We should too!

And the third part of Jesus’s statement is, “and follow me.” Jesus came into the world to teach us, to lead us, and to save us, and we can’t be led if we don’t follow. Throughout the scripture that we hear every week at Mass is his teaching about God’s will for us. It is time for us to follow it. Some would say that this is hard, and the path that society is selling is easier. But we know better. 

Jesus actually makes life simpler if we but commit to following him. How? How does he make our lives simpler? Well, in order to heed all three parts of this statement, to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and to follow him, we must first let go. Let go of our long to do lists, our keeping up with appearances, our stress about the future… and enjoy the moment. Enjoy the day. Enjoy the present. 

In doing this, we can then see his gifts in our lives, in the world around us, we see those who could use our help, a kind word or a listening ear. And by doing this letting go, suddenly some of the stuff on our to do lists is maybe less important, less pressing, less urgent, and we are more… peaceful.

We can ask ourselves in prayer… what gifts did I receive today or what am I thankful for today. We will be surprised to find how much happened today that makes us smile. Think also about where you encountered Jesus today and… maybe, ignored him. People who could have used that kind word or a listening ear. 

This helps us slow down, to appreciate the day, to be present in the present. This helps us fulfill what Jesus said today, “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” We will find His peace we all so desperately need…