Have you ever found yourself dismayed at the severity of some of Jesus’ commands?   Have you ever found yourself thinking: “if this is what it means to be a follower of Jesus, I’ll never make it?   Whenever we feel like this, it’s time to reflect again on what our baptism means.  When we were baptized, our old life of sin was crucified with Jesus. All the characteristics and possibilities of a life of sin were put to death, and all the characteristics and possibilities of Jesus were planted within us.   It’s all there!   Life is now different.  The problem is:  do we believe that it is there?  For only when we believe it, will we begin to see this new life come forth.

 

        Consider St. Paul as an example.  Paul realized that when he came to believe in Jesus, his whole sinful life was put to death — a whole new life was ahead of him.  Paul understood that to take up the cross and follow Jesus means to die to sin just as Jesus did.  This goes deeper than simply renouncing particular sins.   It extends to renouncing the core of our fallen self-will.  Paul took seriously the promise of crucifixion with Jesus, and he based his everyday decisions on the promise that he was — at each moment — raised up to be with the Lord.

 

        Paul sought to lose his life in Jesus, and so he received a new center, from which God’s life burst out like a torrent.  He sought out the giver of all gifts, and he received the supreme gift — the Holy Spirit.  The source of Paul’s inner guidance became the precious Holy Spirit living within him. If it worked for Paul — a former persecutor of Christians — it can certainly work for us!

 

        Lord Jesus, I want to die to myself and live in union with you today.  By your Holy Spirit, apply the power of the cross to all that is fallen within me and empower me to live to please your heavenly Father.