Take up your cross and follow me

‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine,

let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.

For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it;

but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it.’

Luke 9:23 – 24

Perhaps it’s a paradox or a conundrum, but Luke’s Jesus cleverly juxtaposes his words. Clever or not it is a key to discipleship.

Few of my heroes are great public figures. My heroes are drawn from the brave, the amazing, the miraculous everyday men and women who we are likely to meet in the street on any given day. Sometimes we don’t even recognize this kind of hero until it’s too late. My brother Richard was one of these. He was the father of 12 beautiful kids, a grandfather, a husband. The last 30 years of his life was a gift to his family but also a gift to his community of faith, his church. We all knew of his commitment, what we didn’t know was the level of that commitment and the impact that he had on so many people. We – his brothers and sisters – didn’t know, well, because we didn’t notice, we didn’t ask.  And that’s the kind of hero who makes our world a better place. Those he encountered had an attentive ear, a humble word of advice and a great deal of love, all given freely and with empathy.

When we speak of being transformed, it is the effect of a life-changing experience. For the Christian it begins with an encounter with the person of Jesus, most often revealed through relationships in which generous self-giving mirrors the action of Jesus. In time we develop a personal relationship through the various and many encounters with goodness, with hope, with compassion, with love. We enrich it in prayer, reflection, meditation and by responding to the needs of those who meet, and reaching beyond the immediacy of my friends and family by becoming a true neighbour.

This transformation is often named as metanoia (change of heart) or conversion, resurrection (into a new life), the fullness of life, or kingdom of God.

I am deeply privileged to have known my brother. His fidelity and courage have been an encounter for me with the person of Jesus, have opened even wider the door to the fuller life to which I am called. Take a good look at the heroes in your life. They may well be the face of Jesus.

Don’t be afraid to be open to the possibilities that these encounters will bring you.