The Teachings of Jesus in Luke: True Self

Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? ~ Luke 9:23-25
We have the choice of two identities: the external mask which seems to be real, and the hidden inner person who seems to us to be nothing, but who can give him [or her] self to the truth in whom he [or she] subsists. ~ Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
Life is not a matter of creating a special name for ourselves, but of uncovering the name we have always had. ~ Richard Rohr, Immortal Diamond

What does it mean to lose yourself?

 And just what self is it that you are losing?

 How do you deny yourself?

 For Jesus, the self to lose isn't the self that is who we truly are. As Allison, I'm made up of all kinds of identities I've either been given or taken on over the years. Many of them are very necessary and good identities.

 But some of them aren't.

 Some of them are like the insecure child who wants attention or the jealous teen who wants what she can't have.

 But none of those identities are all there is to me.

 Finding the true-self: the self we are in Christ, the self that God created us to be...

 The self that is honest and real and mature and loving and faithful...

 Finding that self can be the adventure of a lifetime.

 Following Jesus means letting go of lots of things: preconceptions, judgments, jealousies, self-righteousness, insecurity, anger...

 All those things that aren't part of who we truly are.

 For Merton and Rohr, there is an understanding that the identities we've been given or taken can be useful to us. But only to a point. Eventually, we are called to look beyond them.

 There comes a time when we need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves - and ask God - just who IS that person looking back at me?

 St. Francis had a wonderful prayer for this..."Who are you, God? And who am I?" Francis would spend hours reciting this prayer to draw closer to who it was God had created him to be.
Prayer: Set a timer for two minutes - or longer if you are able - and repeat this prayer of St. Francis as a mantra in your prayer time.

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