Thursday of Easter Week – Philippians 3:7-16

Philippians 3:7-16

Shhhh!  Do you hear it?

Do you hear what I hear?

Jesus Christ is calling you.

He has called you to know the fellowship of His sufferings on Good Friday.

He has called you to be conformed to His death on Good Friday as well.

And He has called you to know Him and the power of His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

And yet, having called you, He calls you still.  He calls you at the beginning of each day, and He calls you at the end.  He calls you to pay special attention to Him during Holy Week.  But He also calls you to pay special attention to Him all the time.

Through the mouth of St. Paul, He calls you to Him today to ask you some very personal questions.  For starters, He asks you: “What are you willing to give up to follow me today?  St. Paul counted all things as loss, compared to what he gained by suffering and resurrecting with me.  He joyfully suffered the loss of all things and counted them as waste, that he might better seek Me.”

“What are you willing to give up to follow me today?  Don’t answer yet!”

“I was betrayed by one of My closest friends and condemned by both the Jews and Romans – for you.  I was spat on, mocked, and wore the crown of thorns – for you.  I endured the scourging of the Romans and carried My Cross to Calvary – for you.  I had nails driven through my hands and feet and suffered on the Cross – for you.  I took upon Myself your sin and became sin – that you might live.  And I rose from the dead, ascended to the Father, and sent the Holy Spirit – that you might have life everlasting.”

“What are you willing to give up to follow me today?  I’m not asking you to die for Me today, and I’m not asking you to be scourged or thrown in prison for Me.  I’m not asking most of you to leave your home or country for Me, or asking you to risk your job or family.”

“You know what I am asking you to do today, because you have heard Me asking you to do it for a long time now.  You know that I am calling you to obey Me and to stop going your own way.  You know that I obeyed the Father, even though I did not feel like going to the Cross – so that you could obey Me.”

“And you know that I am calling you to turn from your sins, for which I shed My Blood and for which My Body was broken.  You know what these sins are, for you know that my Spirit has been telling you.”

“And you know that I am calling you to take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow me today.  You know that I desire you to follow me gladly and immediately, as did Peter and Andrew, and James and John, when I called them.”

“But I have not called you take upon yourself the sins of the world because I’ve already done that for you.  All that I am asking is that you pick up the cross that I have personally crafted for you today, and to follow me to the Cross and Resurrection.”

“I am calling you to the Cross that is today and all that I have prepared beforehand should come to you today.  It is your daily bread, and in it, you will find Me, for I will never ask you to carry a Cross that I am unwilling to carry with you.”

“I am calling you today: what are you willing to give up to follow me?”

Prayer:  O God, Who for our redemption didst give Thine only begotten Son to the death of the Cross, and by His glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of the enemy: Grant us so to die daily unto sin, that we may evermore live with Him in the joy of His resurrection; through the same Thy Son Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen. 

Point for Meditation:  As you practice listening to what Jesus is telling you today, make a list of the things He is bringing to your attention by the Spirit.  Since we are forgetful and finite, keep this list for future reference. 

Resolution:  I resolve to listen for the voice of Jesus today, to hear what He is calling me to do, and to vow to do it. 

© 2015 Fr. Charles Erlandson