Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” – Matthew 16:24
In the Gospel of Matthew, these words of Jesus encapsulate a profound spiritual truth—self-denial is central to the path of discipleship. But what does it truly mean to deny oneself? St. John of the Cross, a revered mystic and poet, offers valuable insights that resonate deeply with this teaching.
St. John of the Cross, known for his profound spiritual writings and experiences, emphasized the necessity of self-denial in the pursuit of union with God. He described the process as the ‘dark night of the soul,’ a transformative journey of purification and spiritual growth.
Denying oneself, as Jesus suggests, involves relinquishing the ego, the selfish desires, and attachments that hinder our connection with God. St. John of the Cross echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the need to detach from worldly pleasures and comforts to attain a deeper communion with the Divine.
For St. John, self-denial isn’t about self-punishment or suppression; rather, it’s a redirection of our focus from the temporal to the eternal. By surrendering our will to God’s will, we open ourselves to a transformative experience of divine love and grace.
Taking up the cross symbolizes embracing our own trials and challenges. Just as Jesus carried his cross, we are called to embrace our difficulties and sufferings as opportunities for spiritual growth. St. John’s teachings accentuate the transformative power of embracing the ‘cross’ in our lives, seeing it not as a burden but as a means of drawing closer to God.
The path of self-denial and embracing the cross is demanding, yet profoundly liberating. It’s an invitation to a deeper spiritual union, where the self-emptying leads to a greater filling with divine love and purpose.
As we navigate our spiritual journeys, let us heed the words of Jesus and the wisdom of St. John of the Cross. Embracing self-denial isn’t a negation of our being, but a pathway to transcend our limitations and discover the abundance of God’s love.
In conclusion, denying oneself, as illuminated by Matthew 16:24-27 and the teachings of St. John of the Cross, is an essential step toward spiritual growth and communion with the Divine. It’s a transformative journey that leads to a profound union with God, inviting us to surrender the temporal for the eternal.