09-15-21

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
September 15, 2021
There is a rather significant difference between denying oneself and being in denial. In fact, I would suggest that many people who are in denial are unable to deny themselves as Jesus taught. In Luke 9:23, Jesus shared with his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Denial is a very normal reaction in grief or trauma, and it is an act of self-preservation. It is intended to be part of the journey to health, but when we remain in denial, for whatever reason, we can never deny ourselves and take up the cross, the life of self-giving love. If I am in denial about my own fears, insecurities, hate, selfishness, etc. it will be impossible to find the strength of faith to deny myself and to seek the way of Jesus. So many people remain in denial when it comes to their own unhealthiness. I must first be a healthy person (not a perfect person) before I can be a healthy expression of Jesus’ self-giving love. Maybe this is the reason Jesus told his disciples to love their neighbor as they loved themselves. Can we really love our neighbor if we are not in a good place with self? We all have moments of denial, but denying those parts of us standing in opposition to the Jesus-life makes it hard to share the Jesus-life.

You are good and you are gracious, O Lord, and you work in so many marvelous ways. You work to bring health and peace to our lives, for it is only then that we can be the people you created us to be. Assist us as we do the necessary work, setting the stage for a life capable of stretching itself toward the high ideal manifest in the cross. Amen.

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