ONE WAY TO FIND YOURSELF
In the gospel that we hear at Mass this Sunday, Jesus is brutally honest with his disciples. He tells them the truth about where things are headed if they continue to follow him. He explains how he will suffer death, be buried, and then rise again on the third day.
Peter is baffled by the predicted events. He cannot help but protest. He says, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Peter’s strong reaction shows his affection for Jesus, but at the same time it shows how he is missing the real point. He fails to see the bigger vision that God has for all of us.
If we want to follow Jesus; it is going to be difficult. Jesus clearly lets us know what is expected of us. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
There are burdens in life we must shoulder. Broken relationships, illness or caring for a sick family member, big dreams that never fully materialize. But these should not prevent us from following Jesus.
By accepting our situation in life and trusting in God, the burden of carrying such crosses can be eased. The invitation is to let Jesus shoulder our burdens. The one who carried his own cross to Calvary is offering to carry ours too. We are invited to walk the same path with our Savior.
How do we do this? Well, we might have to embrace our weaknesses—by admitting that we are vulnerable and that we cannot do it all on our own. By placing our trust in Christ, we can see that he is by our side, experiencing our pain and bearing it with us.
By taking up the cross we are surrendering to the will of God. We are dying to self and finding out who we really are, and why we are here. Taking up our cross can be a positive thing- one that leads us to love the unloved, reach out to the person that everyone ignores or volunteer to help at a particular charity.
Denying ourselves, to help another, is one way that we find our true identity. Taking up the cross is not about losing our life- it’s about finding it in new and surprising ways and in places that we never thought existed.
Be not afraid. You may find yourself!
JOYCE O’KEEFE
On Friday, August 28th we remembered the life, love and faith of Joyce O’Keefe. Her family and friends gathered to honor her with a funeral Mass that was celebrated in her name at St. Joseph’s Church. Joyce was 86 years old.
Joyce was a lifelong Chicago resident, who lived a life of service to family, community, and the environment. She was an exemplary mother, citizen, and human being. She will be remembered for her honesty, integrity, generosity and the pursuit of what she thought was right. She instilled the value of service in her children. Joyce was truly a good and faithful servant who put her faith into action.
Please keep Joyce and her family in your prayers. May she now come to know the fullness of God’s love for her in heaven. Alleluia!
