If I give too much to God…

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6a00e5537b38b6883301538e107310970b-500wiToday’s Gospel from Luke shows us Jesus saying:

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.

Which made me think of Thomas Merton wrote:

If we do not pray, it is because we sometimes hold superstitions, one form being this: if I give myself up too much to God, God will give me something hard which I cannot do.  

God very clearly gives us something hard to do. Jesus very clearly states that we must deny ourselves and take up our cross.  And we very clearly tend to want to run in the opposite direction.

On this day after Ash Wednesday, what do we think are some of the “crosses” that we are asked to bear? And what are the crosses that we shirk back from?  The braver amongst us can offer thoughts in the comments if they wish. This is simply food for thought, bread for the journey, a prompt for our own prayers.

4 thoughts on “If I give too much to God…”

  1. At times it can become difficult to hold one another accountable. In Matthew the Bible mentions that if you are aware that another is sinning, you’re to bring it to their attention. If they choose to ignore you, you’re to find another friend and go together to bring it forward. And even more so, if it still is not acknowledged to bring it to the church’s attention. That’s a heavy cross. No one likes to be told that what they are doing is potentially damaging to another person. In prayer, God gives us faith,and grace, but we still fear what we don’t know. Unsure of the outcome once we bring to light these indiscretions. I think, in prayer, lies the answer, not a heavier burden. For, it is in prayer that we are, mostly, enlightened, encouraged and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

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    • Yes, prayer and an honest relationship with God. There is no cross heavier than that one if you ask me. There is a reason that some of like to overly focus on the physical nature of the cross; that can be a way that we avoid authentic transformation. It is our hearts and relationship with God – and one another – where God does the real work. If we let God do so.

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  2. Pingback: Lenten Journey | Pastoral Postings

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