Friday 5 August 2022

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Today is Friday the 5th August, in the 18th week of Ordinary Time.

Luke Parker sings, ‘Sweet Surrender’. As you let this music guide you today, reflect on the ways you are surrendering to God in your life…

In my weakness You are strong

You hold my hand and hold my heart

I give it away now, I am on my knees

Offering all I am for You to see

I am thirsty for Your presence Lord

Sweet surrender is all I can give

Sweet surrender to You my offering

Jesus, You're all I'm living for

Holding on to You my Friend, my all

In Your fullness I am free

Help me Jesus to receive

In the secret place I'm on my knees

Reaching the deepest parts for You to see

Oh, I am thirsty for Your presence Lord

Sweet surrender is all I can give

Sweet surrender to You my offering

Jesus, You're all I'm living for

Holding on to You my Friend, my all

There is nothing more

There is nothing more I have

There is nothing more

There is nothing more I can give

There is nothing more

There is nothing more I have

There is nothing more I have to give

Sweet surrender is all I can give

Sweet surrender to You my offering

Jesus, You're all I'm living for

Holding on to You my Friend, my all

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 16:24-28

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.’

Jesus is very clear in speaking to those who want to follow him. There is a cost involved, discipleship is challenging. What’s your first reaction to hearing these words today?

What is at stake here is the whole of your life, and its meaning. How ready do you find yourself to commit yourself to Christ wholeheartedly?

Jesus obviously thinks that it is worthwhile to pay this cost, to take up this challenge. Do you? Why – or why not?

Listen again, allowing yourself to be really challenged by these words.

Allow yourself to respond honestly to the invitation Jesus offers you in this reading today.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.