19-Feb-15

Gospel LK 9:22-25
Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”
Reflection:
I've never heard anyone accuse Jesus of mincing words. In today's gospel, he delivers his message to the disciples "straight from the shoulder."
Anyone who wishes to follow in his footsteps must, "Take up his cross daily and follow me." Jesus does not promise those of us who follow him a life of ease.
The peace that we seek does not come from avoiding life's difficulties and challenges.
Peace of mind and heart is achieved through embracing life's difficulties with a "confident hope" that like Jesus, we too will prevail over our crosses.
In 1935, a small band of dedicated Holy Cross Priests and Brothers acquired a parcel of land with a few buildings in the small town of Easton, Massachusetts. On a shoestring budget they courageously embarked on a quest to establish a Catholic college.
Facing seemingly impossible odds and uncountable difficulties along with personal deprivation, they trudged onward trusting in Christ's promise that with him "they could do all things."
Today, Stonehill College stands as one of the premier Catholic institutions of higher learning on the East Coast.
These priests and brothers serve as examples that our crosses serve as a hope filled challenge, that with Christ, we are able to overcome all obstacles.

"The Cross, Our Only Hope!"

(Motto of the Congregation of Holy Cross)