Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
“Self-denial is the result of a calm, deliberate, invincible attachment to the highest good, flowing forth in the voluntary renunciation of every thing that is inconsistent with the glory of God or the good of our fellow men.”
Gardiner Spring (1785-1873) American minister in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 535.
Spring used two expressions stick with me as we enter Holy Week: “invincible attachment to the highest good” and “voluntary renunciation” of everything else. Why did Jesus take up His cross for us? He was invincibly attached to the Father. Are we?
Additionally, Jesus voluntarily renounced all else for the glory of God and the good of all humankind! He went to the cross for us. Will you join Him in this with me? To be His disciples we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.
Lent is the training ground for living the rest of our lives with “invincible attachment to the highest good,” that is, God, and “voluntary renunciation” of every thing else. When we live this way, our generosity will reflect the generosity of Jesus.