Life with Christ – Reflection on Matthew 16:24-28
When Jesus discusses taking up a cross, He focuses on us burdened with fitting into a world filled with temptations. He knows it is hard for us to belong to a small percentage who pray often or to be Christian guided by Trinity within. While physical or mental suffering will be in the mix, I believe in that regard without our faith we would be on equal ground with the rest of humanity. Without that kind of suffering, we would not have the capacity to tell others how we use our faith to help offset the human condition. The list of spiritual crosses can be individual long, but our yes means we must never give up and often go against the tide. To live a life with Christ, we must embrace God’s will and use Jesus’s example to lead, follow as necessary, and serve others. The taste of death Jesus speaks of is the death of self. once you taste the death of self, you taste the glory of heaven.
Jesus Discourses with His Disciples by James Tissot (full resolution painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Matthew 16:24-28 – Scripture (NRSV Bible)
The Cross and Self-Denial
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel reading and considering this Lectio Divina Matthew 16:24-28 Reflection – Life with Christ.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the Matthew 16 Bible passage.
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