Who are we ?

Gospel: Luke 9:18-24

Jesus warns that he will be rejected, and his fate will be shared by his followers.
Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.”

He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.    

The above passage raises a few important questions, answers of which we must seek within.

1. Who do people think We are ?          

2. To follow him, We need to take up  our cross willingly and follow his words.

It is Finished......

It was the Summer of his 29 as he walked in. The garden at Gethsemane located on a slope of the Mount of Olives across the Kidron valley from Jerusalem where Jesus frequently went to pray.(John 18:2) A Ten year Courtship, and now opposing views on every subject after exchanging vows. The most famous event at Gethsemane occurred on the night before his crucifixion, when Jesus was betrayed. Frequent bouts of hysterics had driven him up the wall. As the evening began after Jesus and his disciples had celebrated the Passover, they came to the garden. Being at the receiving end was never his forte. At one point, Jesus took the three of them - Peter,James and John - to a place separated from the rest. He knew he could no longer continue. Here Jesus asked them to watch with him, so they would not fall into Temptation.(Matthew 26:41), but  they feel asleep. She was unyielding. Twice Jesus had to wake them. A life they planned to build together, was shattered. This was poignant because Peter indeed did fall that night when three times he denied knowing Jesus. The lease had expired. Jesus moved a little away from the three to pray. It was this day they chose to go separate ways, as he walked homeward. He was exceedingly sorrowful, but God sent an angel from heaven to strengthen him. (Luke 22:43) He left his heart behind and arrived in tears. The intense anguish and sorrow Jesus felt was understandable. He wept like never before. Being God, Christ knew all that was to happen to him (John 18:4) He could not accept this. He knew in detail the events that were to follow his betrayal. He was Strong, but now felt Weak. He knew that many who hailed him days earlier would now be screaming for his Crucifixion ( Luke 23:23) It was sad to watch him breakdown. He knew he would be flogged to the point of death, before they pounded the metal spikes into his flesh. Mary his mother arrived. No sooner had Jesus risen from his first fall than he met his mother standing by the wayside. She was dumbstruck. With immense love, Mary looks at Jesus and their eyes met. Why us! Mary's soul was steeped in grief. Her husband stood by her side consoling her. Crucifixion was considered to be the most painful. It could have been in a fit of anger he explained. "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachtthani?" (Matthew 27:46) 
Mary asked her husband to mediate, but she never took his calls or responded to his messages. The spiritual pain of feeling abandoned greatly exceeded the physical pain. And then the day arrived. Jesus knowing that all had been accomplished and to fulfil scripture said, "I thirst". As they broke bread together at the Final Reconciliation, he knew it was all over.  A jar of sour wine was standing there. They put a sponge of the wine on a branch of hyssop and to his mouth. When Jesus received the wine, he said, "It is Finished." He bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)