From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the
Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Matthew 16:21-28
This one is hard. This is where Jesus asks us to leave everything behind and just follow Him. It always sounded to me, at first, like He is asking us to abandon our modern lives, jobs, homes and families, but rather I think He is asking for our trust. When we stop and listen, I believe He will tell each of us what we should do to fufill our purpose here on Earth. He sometimes speaks through a sermon, a friend, or even a blog about how someone else is living out their mission. Lent is a time to try and slow ourselves down for a few moments every day, quiet our minds and listen. I believe it is in the stillness that God calls each of us to what we are meant to be.
"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence... we need silence to be able to touch souls." -Mother Theresa
Lord, quiet my mind, my heart, my soul.
Help me to allow the stillness to fill the empty spaces.
Give me strength to let go of what I believe
So you can show me what I should believe
Give me the strength to trust in your voice
So that you can show me the path you desire for me.
Cathy Cavanaugh
Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Matthew 16:21-28
This one is hard. This is where Jesus asks us to leave everything behind and just follow Him. It always sounded to me, at first, like He is asking us to abandon our modern lives, jobs, homes and families, but rather I think He is asking for our trust. When we stop and listen, I believe He will tell each of us what we should do to fufill our purpose here on Earth. He sometimes speaks through a sermon, a friend, or even a blog about how someone else is living out their mission. Lent is a time to try and slow ourselves down for a few moments every day, quiet our minds and listen. I believe it is in the stillness that God calls each of us to what we are meant to be.
"We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence... we need silence to be able to touch souls." -Mother Theresa
Lord, quiet my mind, my heart, my soul.
Help me to allow the stillness to fill the empty spaces.
Give me strength to let go of what I believe
So you can show me what I should believe
Give me the strength to trust in your voice
So that you can show me the path you desire for me.
Cathy Cavanaugh