Gospel Reflection Luke 9:22-25

Jesus offers us more counter-intuitive words in today’s Gospel passage. What could be more fundamental than the instinct to save one’s own life? Especially in the face of grave danger.  How can that be wrong? Can we not help but live from the first-person perspective? Can we truly operate from anything but the “I”? 

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The incredible stories of human survival against the odds and elements are awe-inspiring. Without a strong desire to survive, and to save their lives, the tales of Eddie Rickenbacker, Lou Zapanieri, and so many others may not have been told. Yet, I suspect that it was not merely a desire to survive for their own sake that those who continue through the crucible of human endurance forge ahead. Without a sense of the transcendent, without something to survive for, without something to look forward to, even the most iron will would melt. 

One of my favorite lines from The Chosen series comes from late in the first season when Jesus says to Simon (Peter) “Get used to different.” There is no more concise way to describe the teachings of Jesus. Different. Indeed, He spoke with the authority, and in the very person of, Almighty God. He spoke not as the scribes, Pharisees, and priests. As He looks forward to His passion, the Lord tells us that seeking to save our lives will cause us to forfeit them. The first instinct, self-preservation, is not the right direction ultimately. Like the Lord, our lives must be lived in an other-centric way. First, toward God. Our lives are not our own. Secondly, toward our fellow man. Without a sense of eternal destiny, neither of these is possible. 

To deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus no matter what happens to us requires a different perspective. Our entire orientation must be radically changed to the divine life. Toward that which is beyond this world.  It is only in this way that the temporal lives we live can be infused with ultimate meaning. We live our lives to the fullest when we live for others. When we take the focus away from us, as difficult as that might be most days, we live more. Counter-intuitive? Yes. True all the same.

Sin forces us to turn progressively inward. When we sin, it is because we choose to indulge instead of denying ourselves. The more we habitually deny that first inward turn, the freer we become to live and do as Christ taught. Our own power is insufficient to achieve this, however. We must humbly receive the grace of God. By God’s grace, the great saints, like Polycarp (who we remember today), were able to live Christ’s teaching to the end. They provide the model for us to follow in living out today’s Gospel.

Gospel Reflection Luke 9:22-25

Luke 9:22-25

What an interesting juxtaposition we read in today’s Gospel. First, Jesus tells His disciples of his pending death and resurrection. Then, He pivots to tell all of those in the vicinity “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” One cannot help but draw the immediate connection between the prophecy of His death and the conditional given for discipleship. This must have been quite shocking to hear; follow Jesus, even unto death. A startling statement.

How painful must it have been for Jesus’ closest followers to hear that the spiritual leaders of Israel would not receive him as Messiah? There is a lack of validation here. Wouldn’t you want your teacher to get notoriety? Hadn’t He done so many signs already? Why would those they had been taught to hold in high regard turn away from the very thing they have been teaching about? We can look at these exchanges through the lens of the resurrection and building of the church, but the disciples had to face great difficulty on this point. The rejection of Jesus by the teachers of Israel has a strong thematic arc through the Gospels and early church.

Jesus then gives the reason why following Him unto death is what it means to be a disciple. For to turn away from Him, to reject Him, is to love the things of the world. This means those things which are opposed to the Kingdom of God. States of affairs that stand athwart God’s way, viz. money, power, acclaim. Those things who ultimately worship something else other than the true and living God.

Jesus tells us we gain nothing by gaining the world. If we had every piece of money that was ever made, if every single subatomic particle on earth was within our possession, if every other human paid obeisance to us, it would still not be enough. We would always want more. Our wills cannot be satisfied with anything that is made. Ultimately, nothing in this world can fill us. No temporal good can make us truly happy. We can only get temporary spikes of euphoria before we want more. The trap of our will - 'hair-trigger sensitive' as it is to disordered passions, is easily sprung. And, like the coyote, usually, nothing short of chewing off our leg (cf Matthew 5:30) will free us.

It is important to note the Lord does not ask for blind faith. He did not ask for blind faith from the twelve and does not from anyone else. So many times, He gives us the ‘why’ that we so deeply desire based on our nature as rational creatures. If only we are open to listening. In this case, He tells us that gaining the world is to forfeit oneself. Like The Picture of Dorian Gray. What we truly become when ensnared by the world is a gross caricature of our true self, the person made by God and for God.

There is no good choice for us outside of Jesus. Sure, there are other choices. None of them will result in our ultimate good. To deny ourselves is to ignore the little voice of the ego and hear the mighty voice of the Father. It is realizing our needs are met and God will give us what we need, whatever that might be.