24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. 28 Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (Matt 16:24-28)
CARRYING THE CROSSES OF OUR TIMES
To this day we remember vividly the incipient stages of the COVID 19 pandemic. So many nameless heroes stepped up and a number of them fallen in the battle against the virus. There was one point when the crisis loomed insurmountable; the number of cases was growing and the number of beds and diminishing. The brave frontliners albeit tired frontliners were weary and asked for respite: “Pagod na pagod na kami.” How consoling must have been the words from Matthew 9:36 that speaks of the heart of Jesus: “At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd!” The Lord sees his suffering people and surely will be moved with pity.
The Gospel reading of today seems to be a contrast. It speaks of crosses, denying oneself, losing one’s life. In our times, we continue to see such situations. Who are those who bear the greatest crosses in the times of the pandemic, of strife, of political turmoil? Who are the people who deny themselves? Who are those who lose their lives? Who are those who come into our minds?
I remember offering a mass for the frontliners at the time when COVID 19 was still arcane to the common person. Maybe even without them knowing it, the frontliners were fulfilling this good news of today. They were denying themselves—serving people they do not know, taking up this cross—these thankless tasks. True disciples indeed! We are consoled thinking about them because Jesus, “the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory and then he will repay each according to his conduct.” The Lord’s heart is continually moved for the goodness that these people show humanity even to this day. If there is any good news that comes in our times, it is the love and compassion for humanity that we see in our frontliners and other unsung heroes.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. What are my daily crosses in life? Do I willingly take them up?
2. Who are the people around me who follow the Lord by taking up their crosses? Do I strive to emulate them?
Lord, strengthen my shoulders that I may bear the crosses of life with love and joy.
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