Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
Reflect
Lent provides us with time to think about the sacrifice we might need to make in order to pick up our cross and follow Christ. There are certainly things we need to let go of that hinder our cross-carrying, but maybe there are things we need to pick up as well. You might need to think more about the things you can start doing in the church, or in your relationships. Sure it costs you something, but as Christ says, “whoever loses their life for my sake shall find it.”
What has faith cost you?
Pray
We know to follow you it will cost us…time, friends, stature, prestige, wealth…may we be willing to leave it all behind in pursuit of your greater purpose. Grant us the strength God to do as you ask not as we wish. Amen.
Go with God!
