Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress": Feb. 11

See 12 connections with today?
Legend below

Listen

Take up your cross/ Boltz (gospel)

Take up thy cross/ Ackley (gospel)

Take up thy cross, the Savior said/ Everest: lyrics+ (gospel)

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling/ Thompson. Maybe written to comfort the dying and Lenten use is off-label, but IMHO the lyrics work.

Pope Francis: World Day of the Sick message

Entrusting Oneself to the Merciful Jesus like Mary

Read

Dt 30:15-20 Moses: “I've set before you life and death, blessing and curse. If you love God and walk in his ways, you'll live and grow, and the Lord will bless you, but if you turn away, you'll perish. Choose life and live.”

Lk 9:22-25 The Son of Man must suffer and be rejected, be killed, and be raised. “To come after me, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. If you lose your life for my sake, you'll save it. What profit is there to gain the world but forfeit yourself?”

Thanks to my daughter for finding this,
though too late for yesterday's post.

Reflect

Creighton: The readings speak of life and death. Jesus predicts his rejection and execution but also his resurrection, then challenges his followers to face the path of the cross. This call goes against human instincts: humility and self-renunciation goes against our tendency to advance ourselves in others' eyes. Moses says that to choose, obey, and love God and walk in his ways leads to life. What choices must I make to achieve life and prosperity? Denials, sacrifices, acts of service and commitment to others?

One Bread, One Body: "Choosing life in a culture of death": Our culture of death is further deteriorating. Choose life: deny yourself, take up the cross Jesus assigns you, lose your life for love of Jesus and the gospel, and be crucified with Christ.

Passionist: What does it mean to love and heed God, and hold fast to him? Jesus says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me....” It's life-giving when we live for God and others, not running from our crosses but letting Jesus help us get through our difficulties. If we can trust him, we can be open to his grace and be able to “lose” our lives for his sake, and find real life in him.

The wicked are like chaff

DailyScripture.net: "Take up your cross daily and follow Christ": When Jesus predicted his passion, his disciples were dismayed: rejection and crucifixion meant defeat. But through his obedience, Jesus won us pardon, freedom, healing, and new life. We lose what we gain, and we gain what we lose. Only God can free us from our ignorance and sinful ways. When we surrender to God, he gives us new life. When our body is weak or ill, we try to nurse it back to health. How much more effort and attention should we give to our spiritual health! Will I part with whatever keeps me from following him? In every decision, we're making ourselves a certain kind of person. A true disciple is ready to give everything up in exchange for abundant life with God. The cross leads to freedom and victory. What cross is Christ asking me to take up today?

Our Lady of Lourdes: Mary appeared to poor Bernadette Soubirous, 14, near Lourdes, calling sinners to change. She's inspired great love of prayer and good works, especially service of the poor and the sick; see also Wikipedia.

Dress legend

'Scroll' pin: Blessed those who delight in the law of the Lord (psalm); if you keep God's commandments... (1st reading)
'Girl with heart' pin: ...but if you turn away your hearts... (1st reading)

OneLife LA button (see here): I set before you life and death; choose life. (1st reading)

'Olympics' tie pin: what's the profit of gaining the world but losing yourself? (gospel)

Dress to God's Word / "Liturgical Dress"