Why, Lord, do we have to deny ourselves?

AS we already know, Christ expressed with unmistakable clarity what is required of those who desire to become his disciples. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,” he declared. He then explained the profound reason behind this demanding invitation: “For he that will save his life, shall lose it, and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it.” (Mt 16:24-25) 

 These words can understandably provoke disbelief and challenge our ordinary way of thinking. One may ask, “Lord, why should following you require such sacrifice? If you truly love us and possess infinite power, why not make discipleship easier and more attractive?” 

 A proper response begins by approaching Christ’s teaching through the light of faith rather than relying exclusively on natural reason. Faith extends far beyond the limits of human understanding. 

 It does not contradict reason but perfects and elevates it. Consequently, humility becomes the indispensable condition for receiving faith. Without genuine humility, the human mind remains closed to the divine wisdom that faith communicates. 

 Christ, who perfectly knows what leads to authentic human flourishing, calls us to deny ourselves and embrace the cross not to burden life unnecessarily but to liberate us from the narrow confines of selfishness. 

 His purpose is to replace self-sufficiency with confident reliance on his providence. Self-denial is therefore not an assault upon human personality but an invitation to entrust one's life to Christ, the perfect model of authentic humanity and the Redeemer who restores our wounded nature. 

 Such self-denial primarily requires rejecting disordered self-love and the tendency to live solely according to what can be perceived by the senses. In doing so, we transcend the limitations of our merely natural existence and become capable of participating in the supernatural life of God. Created in his image and likeness, we are destined to share in his divine life and to participate in his very nature. 

 Nevertheless, denying oneself remains difficult because it demands a profound transformation of our ordinary inclinations. Human nature instinctively seeks self-preservation, comfort, and personal control. Christ’s invitation to self-denial therefore requires us to relinquish the supremacy of our own desires and to reorient our lives toward the fulfillment of God's will. 

 Indeed, several realities make this complete surrender to Christ especially demanding. We possess a strong inclination to direct every aspect of our lives according to our own preferences. We naturally desire to determine our future, pursue our own ambitions, and seek personal recognition. Surrendering this autonomy to Christ can easily appear as though genuine freedom were being diminished. 

 Moreover, the Christian life involves an enduring interior struggle between earthly desires and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, between the inclinations of the flesh and those of the spirit. Pride, anger, selfishness, and similar tendencies become deeply rooted through repeated choices and therefore require continual vigilance, discipline, and divine assistance if they are to be overcome. 

 Yet, if we cultivate authentic humility, allow ourselves to be guided by the light of faith, and remain open to the transforming power of divine grace, nothing that Christ asks of us is ultimately beyond our capacity. We have already been forewarned that genuine discipleship necessarily entails carrying the cross and embracing suffering with perseverance. 

 Accordingly, we must continually reform our patterns of thought and conduct so that our judgments, decisions, and responses increasingly conform to the wisdom and will of God rather than remaining governed merely by our own limited perspectives.

Keeping in mind Tabor and Calvary

THE glory of Christ's Transfiguration on Mount Tabor should never be separated from His sacrifice on Mount Calvary. The dazzling light of Tabor prepares us for the darkness of the Cross, reminding us that suffering is never the final chapter. The same path awaits us. We, too, are called to pass through trials before entering into glory. 

 The Feast of the Transfiguration reminds us of our true destiny. We are not made only for this passing world but for eternal communion with God. One day, by His grace, we shall share in His divine life, our humanity transformed and filled with His radiant glory. 

 What the apostles witnessed on the mountain was a glimpse of what God desires for every believer. Christ's divinity shone through His humanity, revealing the future that awaits those who remain united with Him. Our ordinary lives—with their work, family responsibilities, joys, and struggles—are meant to become places where God's grace quietly shines. 

 The Father's words, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him," remain the surest guide for every Christian. We listen to Christ when we immerse ourselves in Sacred Scripture, speak with Him in prayer, receive Him in the sacraments, and recognize His presence in the ordinary circumstances of each day. Through this constant listening, we are gradually transformed, not by escaping our humanity but by allowing it to be elevated and sanctified. 

 This is why we need to cultivate a truly supernatural outlook. A well-ordered spiritual life nourished by prayer, the sacraments, and daily conversion enables us to see beyond appearances. It allows us to face each day with serenity, to work generously, and to remain focused on doing God's will instead of becoming consumed by fear or discouragement. 

 The Transfiguration was also a gift of strength. Jesus revealed His glory shortly before His agony in Gethsemane and His death on Calvary. He prepared His disciples for the scandal of the Cross by allowing them to glimpse the triumph that lay beyond it. In the same way, the memory of Tabor strengthens us whenever we must carry our own crosses. 

 Our response to suffering, therefore, cannot remain merely human. While we should use every legitimate means to solve our problems, we must also unite every trial with the sacrifice of Christ. Difficulties become occasions for deeper faith, greater patience, and more generous love when they are offered together with Him. 

 Faith also teaches us to lift our eyes above immediate circumstances. If we focus only on what is visible, discouragement easily takes hold. But when we see life through the light of God's providence, we discover that He can draw good even from situations that seem confusing or painful. Nothing is wasted in His loving plan. 

 This perspective helps us remain calm amid life's storms. Fear, anxiety, and uncontrolled emotions often cloud our judgment and weaken our peace. Confidence in God does not remove every difficulty, but it gives us the inner strength to face them with clarity, courage, and hope. 

 We should also learn the holy art of beginning again. Instead of dwelling on failures or becoming imprisoned by regret, we can treat every setback as an opportunity to grow in humility, wisdom, and perseverance. A recollected heart quickly rises after every fall because it knows that God's mercy is always greater than human weakness. 

 Ultimately, the Feast of the Transfiguration teaches us to bring Tabor into our Calvary. We carry in our hearts the certainty that beyond every cross lies the promise of resurrection. When we remember the glory Christ has prepared for those who love Him, we can embrace even the hardest moments with peaceful confidence, knowing that the road of the Cross always leads to the everlasting light of God's kingdom.

Less scroll, more life, please

WE really need to do something drastic about this worldwide pandemic of a sweet poison called compulsive scrolling. We need to replace our phone habits with real life before this endless scrolling destroys our attention span. Yes, we need a radical detox from this mindless scrolling addiction. 

 To have a handle on this very disturbing phenomenon, we need to know its causes. Some studies point to the psychological angles of escapism, boredom, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, fear of missing out, loneliness, etc. 

 There is also what is called as the neurological cause where variable reward systems in apps trigger dopamine release, reinforcing the behavior. Another cause could be termed as environmental where people get hooked to compulsive scrolling because of the easy, 24/7 phone access, providing unlimited feeds. 

 Also, there is now a great social pressure for people to stay online practically indefinitely. Many now believe this is their way of connecting with others and with the world in general. What they miss to realize that such desire for connection is more a matter of self-indulgence rather than a genuine desire to reach out to others. What they actually want is to satisfy their own interests. They just use others for that purpose. 

 What can also be observed is that there appears to be low parental monitoring. Family life is greatly diminished and everyone appears to be isolating themselves in their own world making themselves vulnerable to their weaknesses and the many temptations around. 

 One kind of compulsive scrolling is what is called doomscrolling where one gets the habit of compulsively scrolling through negative news, social media posts or content even though it makes him feel anxious, stressed, or down. Because of that, one’s brain wants to stay more informed and so he would keep on scrolling for more updates. There’s actually no satisfying endpoint since each post leads to another. 

 Even worse than this is what is referred to as pornscrolling which would lead one to scroll for the next more intense or stimulating image or video. Here the dopamine spikes are stronger and more addictive than news-based dopamine. And while doomscrolling makes one anxious, pornscrolling adds shame and secrecy which increases stress and isolation. 

 Because of the terrible effects of compulsive scrolling, many people, especially the young ones, end up becoming addicts and needing urgent medical and professional interventions. No wonder that we can observe a spurt of cases of mental illness nowadays. 

 What can help to control or regulate this addiction is to tell everyone to turn off notifications and keep phones out of reach for a period of time. One has to set time limits in the use of their gadgets. 

 When the urge to open them hits one, it might be a good idea to do a 2-minute alternative, like stretching, drinking water, coming up with a clear valid purpose for using the phone, etc. One should not sleep with the phone beside him. These gadgets should be charged outside the bedroom. 

 Parents should also set guidelines at home regarding the use of these gadgets. They need to monitor and limit children’s gadget use, especially during weekends and holidays. They have to teach the children how to critically evaluate content and to manage screen time. Schools and offices should set relevant policies in this regard. Perhaps some phone-free zones and times can be given. 

 On the whole, everyone should be reminded of who they really are, what the real purpose of life is, and how to make good use of time so as to relate everything in life to the ultimate goal of our life.