Lessons: Psalm 80; Deuteronomy 8:1-10; James 1:1-15; Luke 9:18-27
Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. Psalm 80:3
We come to prayer to restore the image of God that is in us. We come here to rest but not idly. Some word of scripture turns us beyond ourselves that we may have a more whole picture of what our life is to be for now. Layer by layer is pealed away of what is not most truly me/us and another layer of God's good hope is revealed.
Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (Luke 9:18) The question is meant to lead them to clarity not only who Jesus is, but who he is in their lives.
They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” Luke 9:20
This moment of clarity on Peter's part will lead him to listen to the notion that once we identify Jesus this was, as the Messiah, the one who enters our lives to show us more deeply the nature of God, we will choose to follow or not. Over a lifetime we peel away like an onion one layer of resistance after another. Or is it like a cataract slowly removed whereby we see more clearly who we are and what we may become. We see what we may do that reflects Christ more deeply back into life. Some past notions may be changed.
On the day of Jesus' Crucifixion one Simon of Cyrene is instructed to pick up the cross with Jesus and help him carry it a ways. He feels its burden and must have later found his way to follow the resurrected Lord for we have his name in scripture. Names appear in the New Testament because of impact by Jesus and/or historic power. Otherwise his name would not have been remembered. Jesus' life and teaching and spirit effected Simon's life who just happened to be in the way of the cross.
In today's Gospel, another Simon (Peter), once he identifies Jesus as Messiah, is instructed that all lives who make this realization will daily carry a cross. But unlike the first Simon it will be a different weight. This cross will be a place of the heart/mind which in attempting to settle into the heart/mind of Christ will find deep life.
This yielded life will become our true life as it challenges the mask of "me on my own." We root into God's original intent of connection to God and all that is created in God's love. At times this will be emotionally or intellectually challenging. It will cost us to care for others in the way of insight and forgiveness. That cost is time spent with others' needs. That cost is being shaped by other people's awareness and life experiences. It becomes joy in time as we are changed and become more deeply real.
For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Luke 9:24-25
How often do we stop and realize our true self is not what we think? It is what we are drawn into by following Christ Jesus. It happens when our awareness melts into another's life and we allow ourselves to be changed by being of help. It happens because we reflect God's care back.
Thus we pray where we began today.
Restore us, O God of hosts; * show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. Psalm 80:3
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