Thursday, February 27, 2020 — Thursday after the ashes —Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 9, 22-25 — Repent, says the Lord because the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand

On one side, Jesus' journey must pass through three paths, including suffering, death and resurrection. On the other, He shows us the way of self-denial and the carrying of the cross in order to be able to follow Him.

Also in this time of Lent, these are the paths we must take to reach Easter. Renunciation is an attitude of total trust in God and a firm will to bend to his will. We simple human beings cannot guarantee our salvation, but we need God's grace and mercy. It was Jesus Himself who said: "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it". In addition to renunciation, we also need to take up and carry the cross. Here too, it is Jesus Himself who gave Himself as an example, He offered His life. The Christian life is a continual effort to love God and mankind even at the cost of life.

Our life on earth is a gift from God and Jesus shows us how to use it effectively because our life doesn't close in on ourselves and is not limited to the terrestrial period but open to others and to the eternity.

Carrying the cross is already renouncing oneself. Let us put our sufferings in communion with those of Christ, because to walk in his footsteps is not easy. Let us follow Jesus Christ all along the way of the cross so that we can participate in his resurrection.