I am happy to celebrate mass with the employees of the Diocesan Pastoral Center. It is a good practice to come together in prayer and offering mass which is the center of our Christian life. Our work is essential but in order to become more efficient, we always find time to worship God.
Reading this passage from the book of Genesis, I remember the conspiracy theory about the “New World Order.” It means a possibility and opportunity of having a controlled world community that is totalitarian. Those behind this theory want complete political control of people and government, one financial currency and banking system, and everybody has an Identity code for equality and unity. But here comes the Book of Genesis states, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we shall be scattered all over the earth.’” But God never allowed them because humanity thinks everything could be under their human control, this begins misunderstandings, and strife of every kind. Human beings lose their humility and depart from their reliance on God. Pride again strikes human beings’ quest for personal power and desire to be the “boss,” instead of being servants of God. This story is a humbling human experience to increase our awareness of the need for our total dependence on God in order to seek from the Lord guidance and direction in our life.
In the gospel taken from St. Mark, Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
Ash Wednesday will be on February 22, 2023. It will be a season of Lent. Let us prepare to re-focus ourselves. Remembering our daily challenges, we face to carry our crosses each day. How do we manage to deal with those challenges in our life? Let us take some quiet time to reflect on the costs of discipleship:
First, if we really convinced that we must follow Jesus, we must learn how to deny ourselves. Dying to self is the continual denial of the flesh, denial of inordinate or selfish desires which become possible with the agreement to be fully a “new creation” convicted by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, when we deny ourselves, we put others first, especially, seeking God’s glory is the utmost priority.
Second, following Jesus, we need to take up the cross. The cross is the most important element of Christianity. Oftentimes, our understanding of the cross is about our struggles, pain, encountering opposition and suffering. However, those images of the cross are not according to our Christian understanding. For us Christians, the cross doesn’t cause us pain but to give us strength and give life for others because we totally rely on Jesus to be our strength. Indeed, the cross is a blessing and life. Our faith, prayers and complete surrender are what counts most in order to succeed.
Third, Jesus says, “follow me.” Everyone has given the opportunity to retrospect and think our honest response to the invitation of Jesus. It is a command but giving us free choice in order to follow Him. It is a call to a life-time commitment. But we need to understand that this calling is solely not for religious or ascetic practices, but Jesus’ statement clearly speaks that we must carry-out our mission for our family, work and community.
All we need today is the Lord, Jesus Christ, our Savior.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon,osa
