self-denial

I have been shrouded with laxity and hesitation to write updates in my blog since i started venturing with another phase in my life as monk, and that is, studying in a seminary for my priesthood formation.

But lately, my laxity has been overshadowed with a certain kind of enthusiasm to resume with my passion for writing and this passion kept me energized despite my lethargy brought about by a huge pile of thick philosohy reading assignments and a seemed-to-be unending thesis writing for such readings....

What kept my passion from staying within me despite my condition as a grad student? A couple of years ago, while I was inside my contemplative cloister in my monastery in New Mexico, I have deliberately vowed to at least post every other day if not a daily update of reflections to my blog from my daily Lectio Divina. A vow is a vow no matter what the cost, as what thinkers say.

These reflections I now call as mystagogical reflections carry and contain human-lfe experiences drawn to give meaning to the Scriptural passages that I carefully quote to be posted in here for your own daily spiritual reflections. So, this makes sense why I am back to blogging and tries to be more visible by regulary posting updates for you people of God and precious friends!

Today is the first Thursday of Lent. The ashes our Christian Churches laid yesterday on our foreheads are still fresh; and are meant to remind us of a forty-day journey to our spirituality towards the end: our salvation through repentance and conversion of our lives.

In today's Gospel, Jesus, shows us two vivid directions: the Way of the Cross He must undergo, and our own way to follow Him.

Today's Gospel (Lk 9:22-25) says: Jesus said, «The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the elders and chief priests and teachers of the Law, and put to death.

Then after three days he will be raised to life».

Jesus also said to all the people, «If you wish to be a follower of mine, deny yourself and take up your cross each day, and follow me.

For if you choose to save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world while you destroy or damage yourself?».

The path of Jesus is the Way of the Cross and that of death, but also that of His Glory for the Gospel passage says «The Son of Man must suffer many things (...), and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. » (Lk 9:22).

The route we all must take is, significantly, the same one Jesus took, and He shows us how to follow it as stated in the passage: «If any man would come after Me...» (Lk 9:23).

Embracing His Cross, Jesus complied with the Will of His Father; as for us, carrying ours on our shoulders, we follow him in his Way of the Cross.

The path of Jesus is summarized in three words: suffering, dying, raising from the dead.

These aspects make up our own path, too. Consider the essence of our Christian life by self-denial, taking up our cross every day of our life in order that we may be able to follow Jesus.

Why do we do so and follow Jesus in His sufferings? Why the heck do we have to deny ourselves?

If we do not deny ourselves and do not take up our own cross, then we are only seeking to affirm and be ourselves so to save us from the pangs of pains and suffering of life...

Yet, by wanting to save it, we will lose it.

On the other hand, those who, because of Jesus, will not strive to avoid their suffering and the cross, will save their lives. How is this so? This will leave you all to your own contemplation.

Where are we in this mystery of reality?

It is the resulting paradox of our following Jesus: «For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?» (Lk 9:25) that we can find the answers to these unending questions.

Bless us all as we look into ourselves, where we are at this point of time, and delightfully look forward to the Easter of our lives.