“Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me
cannot be my disciple.”
Jesus (Luke
14:27)
I spoke this morning about the deep and terrifying darkness. I do not know what your deep and terrifying darkness, that descends
upon you when the sun has set and you are lying in your bed, is; and, unless
you choose to tell me, it is none of my business. I do not need to know. But I
do know that none of us gets through life untouched by deep and terrifying
darkness.
Jesus’ cross was literal, the instrument of
execution by the Roman state. Our cross is metaphorical; but I suspect that it
is the thing that is our own deep and terrifying darkness, whatever that may
be. Jesus cites fear of ridicule, defeat, and loss of possessions as examples;
but the deep and terrifying darkness contains many terrors. And Jesus invites
us to meet him there, not so that he can lead us by another way that
circumvents the deep and terrifying darkness, but in order to lead us through
death to life.
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