Self-Denial: For Thursday

St. Matthew 16:24-28 (8/7) Gospel for Thursday of the Eighth Week after Pentecost Self Denial: St. Matthew 16:24-28, especially vs. 24: "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, 'Ifanyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself....'" St. Paul once posed a crucial questionthat applies to each Christian: "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey,you are that one's slaves whom you obey...?" (Rom. 6:16). Note St. Paul's implication: everyoneis slave to someone or something. Our human problem is that we cannot serve both Christ asMaster and be ruled by other things in this life to which sin entices us. To be Christ's slave, onemust wage a continuous interior war. Listen to St. Paul: "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet youobeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set freefrom sin, you became slaves of righteousness....For just as you presented your members as slaves ofuncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slavesof righteousness for holiness" (Rom. 6:17-19). Here is our dilemma. We are in a unending battleof self-denial to remain faithful to Christ and not to be drawn back into sin. Who is our Guide in this battle for self-denial? Christ Himself, of course: "...I havecome down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me" (Jn. 6:38). TheLord Jesus does not ask something of you that He did not do Himself as a man. He knows the battle,and in Him you have an invincible Champion: "...those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh withits passions and desires" (Gal. 5:24). Choose to depend on grace from God for this battle, for He"will crush down Satan" under your feet (Rom. 16:20). However, if you and I will not deny "self," if we persist in pampering and indulging ourself, let us accept the Lord's declaration that "whoever desires to save his life will lose it" (Mt.16:25). See, there is no profit in giving in to self! Even if I gain the whole world, I will, in fact,forfeit the life in Christ (Mt. 16:26). Remember also, the Son of Man will come and "...reward eachaccording to his works" in this life (Mt. 16:27), who lives shamelessly for pleasure, gratification andguilt. Do we preach fear? We do not deny the reality of dread in the Gospel. St. John Chrysostom observes that "fear is necessary merely in order that we may masterthe indolence natural to us. Where there is so fierce a war and such great hindrances, how can weby any possibility be saved without fear?" It is told of St. Silouan that he achieved union with Christand became His slave by the continuous raging of the fires of hell around him. Do we think that theApostles, the Prophets, and the Lord Himself held the "fear of God" lightly? Listen to the counselof the Prophet David: "Who is the man that feareth the Lord? He will set him a law in the waywhich He hath chosen. His soul shall dwell among good things, and his seed shall inherit the earth.The Lord is the strength of them that fear Him..." (Ps. 24:12-14). St. John Chrysostom identifies godly fear as an essential for spiritual growth. As he says,"And how may this fear be produced? If we only consider that God is everywhere present, hears allthings, sees all things, not only whatsoever is done and said, but also all that is in the heart, and thedepth of the soul, for He is 'quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart' (Heb. 4:12).Whenever you eat, consider that God is present, for He is present; whenever you are preparing tosleep, or giving way to passion, if you are robbing another, or indulging in luxury, or whatever youare about, you will never fall into laughter, never be inflamed with rage. 'Serve the Lord with fearand rejoice in Him with trembling' (Ps. 2:11)." O my Creator, establish me wholly in Thy fear. Ever shelter me, guard and keep mefrom every soul-corrupting deed and word. Show me a dwelling place of Thy Spirit only.