St. Mark 8:34-9:1 (3/30) Gospel for the Sunday of the Adoration of the Cross: 3rd of Lent
Essentials for All Disciples: St. Mark. 8:34-9:1, especially vs. 34: "...Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” In Christ, God reveals that He is searching for sinners who will obey Him, freely admit their sins, and struggle for purity. Very kindly, the Lord Jesus foretells His rejection, death, and Resurrection (Mk. 8:31), and, from His Passion, enlarges the vision of what is essential for the Christian struggle: self-denial, taking up one’s own cross, and following Him in whatever suffering ensues (Mk. 8:34).
Consider self-denial. The Lord does not restrict self-denial only to ascetic practices - to “askesis,” meaning “exercise.” The serious Christian undertakes ascetic exercises - fasting, vigils, prayer, and almsgiving with a very specific end in mind. In St. Paul’s words, one denies one self “that I may gain Christ and be found in Him” (Phil. 3:8,9). However, what one faces in such an undertaking is self-will, my rebellious soul that wants its own way. Our inner life is akin to a 2,500 pound Spanish fighting bull, and no one is about to ride such a self nor to lead it.
Still, we have committed ourselves to being “thrown” by the rebellious self a thousand times “for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus [our] Lord” (Phil. 3:8). And God in His mercy has set before us this superior opportunity to address our rebellious self in this life - an effort aimed at gaining Christ’s will as our own will. As the Elder Joseph the Hesychast says, “For if you endure the daily ascesis, every time you coerce your soul to bear a cold word, a derision, a reproach, you become a confessor. Every time you have patience, you receive a crown, and it is considered by God to be a daily martyrdom for you.” Such is self denial.
Closely related to self-denial is “taking up one’s cross,” not the Lord’s Cross, but one’s own cross, the one with my name on the placard. This cross is to embrace with the love of the Lord Jesus all who surround us. Most especially our cross is everyone who “waves red flags” to provoke the “fighting bull” within us. God brings into our lives those who aggravate, irritate, and inflame our passions to provide us with opportunities for suffering love. We do not need to seek in strange places for suffering. He gives them in the accidents of our residence, financial agreements, social contacts, professional relationships, spiritual fellowships, and parish life.
The Lord Jesus shapes each cross to develop the commitment of those He loves, so that they will carry out His will, die to their own desires and exhibit His will through their words and deeds. Nothing is forced in this; still, the Lord is quite direct about the choice: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it” (Mk. 8:35). Salvation lies in trying again and again to tame the “raging bull.”
How do we know we really are denying self and taking up our cross? The Lord indicates the way: when we follow Him and His words and have no shame (vs. 38). In what circumstance, what challenge, and what choice is He not leading us in a very specific direction? Every decision is a “Yes” or a “No” for Christ, no matter how small or inconsequential I may deem it.
St. John Chrysostom reveals Christ’s meaning: “‘If any man will come after Me.’ I do not force, I do not compel, but each one I make lord of his own choice. For to good things do I call you, not to things evil or burdensome; not to punishment and vengeance, that I should have to compel. No, the nature of the thing alone is sufficient to attract you....For although it be in My power, as Son of God, to hinder you from having any trial at all of those hardships, yet such is not My will for your sake, that you may yourself contribute something, and be more approved.”
To Thee, O Savior of the world, do we travel early, praising Thee, having found safety in Thy Cross, through which Thou didst renew mankind and led us to the never-setting light.
