“The only petition I would have you put forward on my behalf is that I may be given sufficient inward and outward strength to be as resolute in will as in words, and a Christian in reality instead of only in repute.”
READ: LUKE 9:18–27
Now one day when he was praying alone in the presence of his disciples he put this question to them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist; others Elijah; and others say one of the ancient prophets come back to life.” “But you,” he said, “who do you say I am?” It was Peter who spoke up. “The Christ of God,” he said. But he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone anything about this. “The Son of Man,” he said, “is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.” Then to all he said, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self? For if anyone is ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his own glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
YOUR THREE-STEP GUIDE TO DAILY MENTAL PRAYER
REFLECT
True friends tell friends the hard truth; flatterers don’t. In this intimate exchange, Jesus looks His chosen disciples in the eye and tells them a very hard truth — that their lives will take on real meaning only if they are willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary (dreams, hopes, comfort, plans) in order to follow Him. If we don’t take the time to learn this lesson, we run the risk of discarding our friendship with Christ when it starts to cost us. Jesus warns us that if we are ashamed of Him and our identification with Him, if we prefer acceptance by the world and worldly success to being a faithful Christian, then we may, tragically, end up with what we have preferred. In the end, Christ’s Kingdom will come in all its glory (now in the Church, it is still in embryonic form), and our allegiance to Him, in spite of suffering and rejection, will prove to have been, as He promises us, the wiser course. If Christ had not traveled that path ahead of us, climbing the hill of Calvary and dying on a cross, it would be hard to believe Him. But He has, and so it shouldn’t be that hard after all.
RESPOND
And if You were to ask me this question: “Who do you say I am?,” how would I answer? I would say the right words: “You are the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord of life and history.” But I think You would keep looking at me, because You see beyond words into my heart. And in my heart, Lord, I have still not surrendered completely to Your love. Lord Jesus, help me.
REST
What are You asking of me, Lord? Okay, I give it to You. I will follow where You lead. If You went to Calvary for me, I will go there for You. Help me to see everything with faith. If I know it’s Your will, I can embrace it, but my faith is sometimes so weak that I forget to look for Your hand in the circumstances and responsibilities of my life. Lord, increase my faith.
RESOLVE
How can I carry this encounter with me into the day? (Write / Journal)
CLOSING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Most Blessed and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and Your grace in allowing me this time of prayer with You.
The world, the flesh, and the devil will all propose things I should focus on and run after today. I beg You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me instead to know and embrace Your will. Help me to see what You desire of me each moment of this day. Give me the wisdom, strength, and fortitude I need to avoid distractions, discern Your will, and focus on and carry out that which Wisdom reveals. Help me to work and live at a pace of peace and prayerfulness, always attentive to You, able to hear Your voice and to say no to anything that hinders my journey to You and a complete yes to every Holy prompting from You.
Help me to humbly and purposefully live, light, and lead others to the path of union with You and to tell everyone about this way of life. Amen.
About the Author
Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
