“Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus lays down the conditions of discipleship.”

Whoa. 

That was a gut punch. 

Again, far be it from me to preach to any or all of you. I am in the process of working my way back through the mess I made of things.  But this stands out in numerous ways, all amenable to a Linkedin life.  But I digress…

Essentially, deny yourself. Make it about those all around you.  From the bottom to the top.  They are to be your priority going forward, at all times and all the time.

A  tough row to hoe if you are on social media.  Caught up in the rigamarole of office politics.  Seniority.  Parking spots. And the like. 

Essentially, plain and simple, set yourself aside.  Make it about the other.  Not you.   Make it about the other. 

Then, go one or many more steps forward and “lose your life” for those all around you.   Make it totally about them.  What they need.  Focus on their growth.  What they can achieve.  How they can be promoted.  Ultimately, their success.  

Cause when this happens, you have built a team that will carry on what you have taught, embraced and loved as only you could. 

Speaking as a coach, I am not on the field.  They are.  So they need to be placed in a position where they can  make every moment count.  

For them.  

Not me. 

It will take some discernment, acceptance and faith, but trust that what becomes of denying yourself will make you what and who you were meant to be.  

A disciple so to speak. 

One who puts themselves there for the other.  Because ultimately, it will come to round you out and bring you where you have always wanted to be. 

There for them.  

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.”

“What we have to be is what we are.”

― Thomas Merton

I do my best to read the daily gospel reflections from Bishop Barron.  As I continue my work to regain the conviction to return I am finding each day’s offering extends far beyond the scope of its intentions.  At least that is how I read and feel them.  

Parallels abound, things click in all manners and his words convey images, ideas and interests faar beyond the message of the moment.  Thank you for shaking things up and making me think, Bishop.  

So today, He says “who do you say that I am?”. A point blank address to those around Him to confess the known but unsaid truth.  To put what was known into words.  So that all were not just aligned, but all understood and all confirmed the veracity of what things were.  Sorry, kind of selling that historic moment short.  

Now in no way am I contending that I deserve that level of consideration from anyone let alone twelve.  But when I read this, I actually wondered what those that “know” me say that I am.  For it is certain that I struggle saying who I am.  And I am confident that those around me see something that is for lack of a better term, exists in total obscurity to me.  

Now He asked because he knew, and wanted them to come to see and share in that knowledge.  I ask because I am not so keen on what it is that I am, and seek to understand what is obvious to those but me.  

While He was made to be Him, I was made to be me.  You were made to be you. It can be challenging when there is alot of gray and we just are not certain who we say we are as was He. Perhaps there is something else to be gained from today’s gospel.  

Relinquish the resistance towards something bigger than yourself.  Like trust in how you were made.  What you are intended to do. 

So that you can be what you are.  

Who He says I am.