Sunday Reflections

Who truly is the Christian disciple and what does it take to become one? Jesus addresses this question in today's Gospel by stating, “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, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

To truly embrace discipleship in the Lord, we must begin by denying ourselves. This act of selfdenial involves placing complete trust in Jesus, recognizing that He has a purpose and plan for our lives. Moreover, it requires acknowledging our weaknesses and humbly acknowledging that all the blessings we receive come from the Lord. Then, we take up our cross, which entails accepting the various sufferings we encounter and uniting them with the sufferings of Jesus on the cross. In doing so, we grow in awareness that He bears our sufferings with us. Lastly, we commit to following Him wherever He may lead us. This may involve stepping outside of our comfort zones, but being a disciple means having faith that Jesus will be with us every step of the way.

This is the path to which all stewards are called – a life characterized by sacrifice, service, and love. Stewards willingly offer their gifts and talents, even at the cost of their valuable time, recognizing that these abilities are bestowed by Jesus Himself. Their deep affection for Him and His Church compels them to share these gifts with others. It is only by denying ourselves, shouldering our individual crosses, and faithfully following Jesus that we can extend the same selflessness to others and actively contribute to the growth of God's kingdom.

Summary

To fulfill our role as disciples and stewards, Jesus invites us to engage in three fundamental actions: self-denial, carrying our cross, and following Him. As we do this, we gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and become more attuned to His voice, discerning the myriad of different ways He calls us to share our time and talent. Embracing a life of sacrifice and love, which is inherent to stewardship, empowers us to actively contribute to the advancement of God's kingdom through our actions.


https://www.archtoronto.org/stewardship