WRITTEN TH. KIRYGMA
The Renunciation of Ourselves and the Cross
Today, my Christians, our Church is presenting the Cross of the Lord in the middle of Lent. It presents it as knowledge and as an example.
As knowledge to remind everyone of the ultimate humiliation of the Son of God, so that He Himself would suffer the most humiliating death, as the crucifixion was then considered. And this is a reminder that we all need: believers, unbelievers and unbelievers. Believers in order to establish in our conscience the infinite love of God. The unbelievers to awaken from the sleep of every doubt, taught by the voice of the centurion «Even so, this is the Son of God.». And the unbelievers to be seduced to the Faith, seeing the Leader of the Faith suffering for the sake of «of the life of the world».
Jesus had foretold His death on the cross. At the same time He had called every disciple, every believer, every one who wants to follow Him, to take up his personal cross, denying himself.
What a difficult call!... Earthly nature dictates that we should take care of ourselves, that we should take care of ourselves, that we should belong to ourselves. And even if we are virtuous, good citizens, honest, merciful to others and law-abiding, for our brothers and sisters we give only what we have «left over». We may have charitable works and membership in similar organizations, we may have charitable works and membership in similar organizations, we may have charitable works and membership in similar organizations, we may have charitable works and membership in similar organizations, we may have charitable works and membership in similar organizations.
we bequeath our potential wealth for great works of public utility, but... after death! All this after we have spent our entire lives taking care to provide for ourselves first (to provide for everything except our inevitable biological death). There are very few Christians who would accept a total sacrifice of themselves.
There was no «convenient» Christianity in the early Church. Everyone was ready to sacrifice themselves, dying for Christ. But to the Disciples (the twelve, the seventy, the fifty), all were willing to be martyred. (We know that of the twelve, eleven were martyred). What gave them courage and courage was the example of the Master. And His word: «Whosoever will come after me, I renounce myself and hang up his cross...».
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In the present age of self-interest and «convenience», those of us who believe in Christ should at least oppose our intention. Let us imitate Thomas: «Let us strive and die with Him». Since we tremble before the denial of ourselves, let us ask the Divine help for illumination and strength. And may the Lord allow no persecution. But in the meantime, let us also show true love by taking care of our own selves!
First name: Fr. P. Mariatos
