To the Ends of the Earth: Witness – Week 8, Day 4 – At God's Command, the Dead Come Back to Life
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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.”
Mark 8:34–38
Just as men are called to be leaders in their families, so too are we called to take the lead within our family of faith. We are called to carry our cross and follow without hesitation where our Savior leads. Yet many of us seem to be ashamed of what it means to belong to the Body of Christ. We are afraid to share our faith and reluctant to get involved in ministry in the Church. It calls to mind the old question: “If you were arrested for believing in Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”
Living our legacy as members of the Church means more than merely participating in the rituals and rites of the Church.
It means committing our minds, our muscle, and our very souls to the cause of Christ. Matthew’s Gospel has a chilling word for those who do not stand up for the Gospel: “So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Mt 10:32–33). Each of us must examine our own conscience in this regard, asking ourselves honestly: Am I ashamed of Jesus, or do I live openly and proudly as one of his followers?
This week, we will consider these key truths from this passage of the Gospel of Mark:
1. We are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ.
Jesus speaks in no uncertain terms about what it means to believe in him. We must put ourselves aside in order to accept the trials God will allow as we walk the journey of salvation, trusting God’s call no matter where that may lead.
2. It’s all opposites.
Too many men put themselves first, but Christ calls us to surrender our lives in order to gain true life. Anyone who tries to hold onto his own life will, in the end, be lost. As Catholics we must put the Gospel, and not ourselves, first. There is no other way to heaven.
3. There is no comparison in the costs.
We could gain untold wealth, fame, or power, but when heaven and earth pass away, all of that will be lost — and so will we. Yet, when we put Christ first, we gain all the riches of the universe, for we gain the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. If we are ashamed of Christ, he will be ashamed of us.
To imagine Jesus saying he is ashamed of us is a frightening and sobering thought. Consider the image of the lost standing before Jesus as they hear the words, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers” (Mt 7:23). This should not be.
5. Christ is coming into his glory.
In the end, Jesus Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. We need to consider just what that will mean for those who reject the Gospel. We must follow the call to live our lives for the kingdom.
A Call to Action
Following the path of Christ means living a life of total surrender to the One who surrendered his life for us. This week, commit to taking meaningful action to live an unashamed Catholic life. Consider ways you can put your family, your friends, and your Church before yourself. Spend time with Jesus celebrating your salvation and praying for the grace to persevere. Participate in the sacraments and seek out brothers for fellowship and support. Keep in mind the legacy we share as baptized Christians and work to take up your cross and follow more fully in the footsteps of Christ every day.
Our witness as Catholic men depends on our willingness to accept the call to follow Christ with all our minds, hearts, and souls. To be ashamed of Christ is to fail in our call to witness to the Gospel. We are either for Jesus or against him — so let us be firmly resolved to be for him in all things, no matter the cost.
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
