Following God's Invitation

 

From today’s "Romans" reading: "Do not conform yourselves to this age; but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that you may discern what the will of God is; what is good and pleasing and perfect."

Every one of us is called to give to others.  We are called to be men and women of action.  Sometimes we are asked to go to the edge – to help others in ways we may not have thought of.  As followers of Jesus we are reminded in today’s readings that we may be called to carry the cross on occasion.  We may be called to help others in ways we never thought or imagined.

It is clear we can’t take the cross out of our religion. We can’t take it out of our daily consciousness either. We may not suffer on the same kind of cross Jesus did, or be martyred the way so many who have followed Him have been. But still, Jesus tells us we must each take up our cross and follow Him – and the cross costs. The cross is not simply something we wear as an accessory around our necks. The cross will cost us if we follow what St. Paul tells us today.

So, we ask ourselves:  Do I wear a cross around my neck or have one on the wall of a room at home?  Why? What does that visible symbol of Christ’s suffering mean to me?  How does it affect my daily life – what I do and the decisions I make?  Am I willing to give of myself even when it may be costly?

Let us be transformed each day by deciding to follow where Jesus leads without turning back.  May we have the courage and strength to seek to do the will of our loving God in all that we do.