Jonathan Ozanne writes...
The theme for Centennial UMC’s Lenten Blog this year is “Enter the Story”. The Centennial Lenten Blog is made up of a collection of reflections about how friends and members of Centennial UMC have participated in the story and watched and listened for signs in which their lives are reflected the lives of the early disciples.
It has been inspirational to read these Lenten reflections and now it is my turn to share…
“He 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.” Mark 8:34.
Reading this passage broadly, it says that following Christ is not easy, and must involve the follower denying himself or herself. (See also Matthew 10:34-39, Luke 14:25-35). Whether you take a literal or figurative interpretation of these gospel lessons, the message is that followers of Christ are called to let nothing stand in the way of following Christ. This denial could come at great personal cost in terms of family or worldly goods or both.
At the Ash Wednesday Service, a worksheet was handed out with a checklist of Personal and Social Disciplines to help prepare for Easter. As another Inward and Personal Discipline I am giving up “ice cream”. I am giving up “ice cream” to focus on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. A sacrifice that is infinitely greater than the trivial sacrifice of giving up “ice cream” for Lent. However my trivial sacrifice, denying myself “ice cream”, has not been easy. My sacrifice has also helped me focus on how much I like eating ice cream and on legalistic ways around my “denial”. (Is an ice-cream cake, considered cake or ice cream? Are sherbet and frozen yogurt considered to be ice cream?)
Denying ourselves that which gets in the way of worshipping God and following Jesus Christ is not easy, but it is something that we are called to do as disciples of Jesus Christ.
If you went to the Ash Wednesday service, take another look at the “My Preparation for Easter” checklist and see how you are doing and if there is another “denial” you could make. If you didn’t go to the Ash Wednesday service, think about what you could do to “deny” yourself.
This denial could take many forms. Maybe it is going to church instead of sleeping in on Sunday morning. Maybe it is giving up eating out once per week and donating the money saved to a mission project or to help the needy. Maybe it is denying the fear of rejection and inviting a friend to worship on Sunday. These are just a few ideas. There are lots of good ideas on the “My Preparation for Easter” checklist.
As disciples, we are called to deny ourselves and follow Christ.
It has been inspirational to read these Lenten reflections and now it is my turn to share…
“He 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.” Mark 8:34.
Reading this passage broadly, it says that following Christ is not easy, and must involve the follower denying himself or herself. (See also Matthew 10:34-39, Luke 14:25-35). Whether you take a literal or figurative interpretation of these gospel lessons, the message is that followers of Christ are called to let nothing stand in the way of following Christ. This denial could come at great personal cost in terms of family or worldly goods or both.
At the Ash Wednesday Service, a worksheet was handed out with a checklist of Personal and Social Disciplines to help prepare for Easter. As another Inward and Personal Discipline I am giving up “ice cream”. I am giving up “ice cream” to focus on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. A sacrifice that is infinitely greater than the trivial sacrifice of giving up “ice cream” for Lent. However my trivial sacrifice, denying myself “ice cream”, has not been easy. My sacrifice has also helped me focus on how much I like eating ice cream and on legalistic ways around my “denial”. (Is an ice-cream cake, considered cake or ice cream? Are sherbet and frozen yogurt considered to be ice cream?)
Denying ourselves that which gets in the way of worshipping God and following Jesus Christ is not easy, but it is something that we are called to do as disciples of Jesus Christ.
If you went to the Ash Wednesday service, take another look at the “My Preparation for Easter” checklist and see how you are doing and if there is another “denial” you could make. If you didn’t go to the Ash Wednesday service, think about what you could do to “deny” yourself.
This denial could take many forms. Maybe it is going to church instead of sleeping in on Sunday morning. Maybe it is giving up eating out once per week and donating the money saved to a mission project or to help the needy. Maybe it is denying the fear of rejection and inviting a friend to worship on Sunday. These are just a few ideas. There are lots of good ideas on the “My Preparation for Easter” checklist.
As disciples, we are called to deny ourselves and follow Christ.
posted by Melanie at 6:52 PM
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