PRI Reflections on Scripture | Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples:
"The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised."

Then he said to all,
"If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”

Reflection

Jesus had to die in order to bring life into the world. It's the great paradox. Why would we he be asked to die in order to live? If it wasn't for the fact that there is such a radical change when Jesus came into the world to explain how and why we are here. It is a cry for authenticity. It is the need to be honest about who we are to ourselves and to one another.

The less authenticity there is, the less grace that abounds.

Closing Prayer 

Father, your will is that the kingdom be established here on this earth. And it cannot grow. It cannot become what you long for it to become, without our honest reflections on who we are and why we're here. Bless us, especially during this Lenten season, to ponder these mysteries and to grow in our authenticity. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross