6th Week in Ordinary Time, Friday – 18th February 2022 — Gospel: Mark 8,34-9,1
Denying One’s Self
The sayings that are addressed are not merely to the twelve but to the crowds. The denial of self that Jesus calls the crowd to is an absolute requirement if one desires to follow him. The reason for this is that as long as the self remains, following Jesus will be half-hearted and incomplete. It will always come in the way of following. This denial, thus, is not limited to situations of persecutions alone but also to those situations in which personal likes and dislikes will get in the way of the proclamation of the Gospel. The sayings are difficult to put into practice but Jesus never said that following him in mission would be easy. Our ego often comes in the way of our discipleship. Too much importance to the self leaves one unable to follow, as one ought to.
