21.02.25 Jejak Kristus: Memikul Salib di Jalan yang Berbeda

Friday 6th week in ordinary time "Mk 8:34-9:1" And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." To follow Our Lord will always be to go against the grain. Those who are ready to save their lives (and many others' lives) have to be ready to lose it for Jesus' sake and for the Gospel. But it doesn't necessarily mean losing our lives as martyrs do. For many of us, to be ready to lose our lives means to be able to give up our comfort (good life), our good name, our prestige, our career, our projects, our plans... We have to be ready to stand for God and for Good. 'The Emperor's New Clothes' is a classic tale based on an old story written in Spain in 1335. It tells the story of a vain king fooled by two tailors. They promise him the finest, best suit made of a fabric invisible to anyone who is "hopelessly stupid". When the tailors report that the suit is finished, they mime dressing him and the king marches in procession before his subjects. No one can see the clothes but they don't dare to say it for fear that they will be seen as "hopelessly stupid". The tale finishes when a child in the crowd, too young to understand the pretence, blurts out "But he hasn't got anything on!" At that point everyone realises that no one dared to tell the truth for fear of being taken for fools. Likewise, in today's society, standing up for God and for Truth often means challenging the views of the majority. We will probably be taken for fools, vilified or ridiculed; however, that's the only way we can open the eyes of many to recognise the Truth they feel but can’t yet see. Mary, Mother of Confessors, may I never be ashamed to stand up for your Son, may I never keep silent, never be embarrassed to swim against the tide, to speak up, to help people see the Truth of Christ.