TAKING UP THE CROSS
PREACHER: Frater Arnoldus Siagian
“Anyone who wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up the cross and follow me.”
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today in the Gospel, Jesus greets us through many teachings. Jesus did not want His followers to misunderstand his presence and existence. He did that through his teaching words and miracles such as healing the deaf, the blind and so on.
Because at the time there hardly any people who really understood about Jesus’ Messianism. From the beginning the apostles saw Jesus as a political leader. Jesus knew this. This is why Jesus taught the people, especially the apostles, so hard. The goal is to make sure the people have the right motivation in following Jesus and so that they can understand Jesus’ Messianism from ones’ own direct encounters with Him, not mainly because of other people’s reports.
When Jesus asked to apostles who are Jesus for them, Peter answered “Messiah”. Peter’s answer showed that the apostles slowly understood God’s statements in Jesus’ works and words. Indeed, Peter’s understanding of Jesus was not yet perfect. Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah, but not the Messiah who suffered and died on the cross. Then, Jesus corrected Peter’s concept of Messianism he had in Jesus. At the first place, it was Peter’s own point of view. But, then it was shifted to God’s point of view.
It is that Jesus was sent by God His father into this world, not to merely please the mind and the desire of human, but to save human from their sinfulness through His suffering, cross, death and rising. In the Gospel, Jesus also said, “every one who wants to follow Me must deny him self and take up the cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the sake of the Gospel will safe his life. “
Dear brothers and sisters,
Jesus said this so that we as His followers bravely bear our own crosses and not fearful of insults, rejections and bullies. So that we may encourage ourselves to stand with the work of salvation that Jesus brings. This is our main starting point in our seemingly endless journey from our humanity up to the throne of His Kingdom. This vocation postulates sacrifices that is moved by our original experience of being loved by God Himself and our own authentic encounter with God.
Doing so, dear brothers and sisters, We should understand how important it is for us to experience the presence of God within ourselves and realize His work of salvation provided for us. For that, as Catholics, we need to deny ourselves for the way of life which is appropriate and worthy in God’s eyes. We need to live by God and with God by diligently praying, going to the Church, doing our jobs, living in love and peace, supporting each other to move forward together.
This kind of way of life surely requires us to lower the position of our own personal interests for the good of the community. The good of all is the first priority. It is not easy of course. Therefore, let us ask the strength from Lord Jesus, who has sacrificed His life first for our salvation. Have a trust, asking for God’s strength and mercy: we will be enabled to create a way of life that God Himself prefers.
God bless us. Amen.
Ini adalah teks kotbah/renungan dalam Bahasa Inggris yang disusun, diterjemahkan dan disampaikan oleh seorang calon imam diosesan Keuskupan Agung Medan, Frater Arnoldus Siagian. Saat ini Arnoldus berada pada formasi awal pembinaan calon imam sebagai seorang frater Pra-TOR (Pra-Tahun Orientasi Rohani).
Sebagai calon imam yang baru saja menamatkan pendidikan dari SMA Seminari Menengah, maka patut diduga mereka belum dibekali dengan cukup terkait pengetahuan filsafat dan teologi yang perlu untuk itu. Maka, guna memastikan ortodoksi dengan ajaran Gereja, maka sebelum kami – frater pembawa renungan dan Saya – menterjemahkan dan melatih cara penyampaiannya, maka terlebih dahulu setiap teks diperiksa dan dikoreksi oleh Pastor pendamping (chaplain), entah oleh Pastor Rektor Pra-TOR RD Johannes Sihombing atau oleh Magister Spiritualis RD Anton Nguyen van Viet.
Sesuai dengan maksud dari tulisan ini, maka artikel ini dapat pembaca gunakan menjadi sarana untuk memberikan masukan terhadap pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris yang kami lakukan sehingga terjadi penyempurnaan berkelanjutan.
Saran terkait apa saja? Kita boleh menyasar aspek manapun dari sebuah kotbah: aspek penyampaian (delivery), isi, struktur atau bahkan aspek teknikal seperti gestur, pengucapan dan pelafalan dan sejenisnya. Saran dan diskusi membangun selalu penting dan berguna, sebagaimana yang kita semua harapkan terjadi pada semua institusi pendidikan, terutama pembinaan calon imam kita. Bagaimanapun, pembinaan calon imam sekarang akan ikut menentukan keberlangsungan Gereja di masa depan.
Video penyampaian kotbah ini dapat kita saksikan di kanal Youtube SPP Kabanjahe.
