“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange
for his life?” Matthew 16:24-26. St. Faustina said, “Now I understand well that what unites our soul most closely to God is self-denial; that is, joining our will to the will of God. This is what makes the soul truly free.”

Let us pray, Lord Jesus, again and again You teach us that our salvation is in self-denial, taking up our cross and follow in Your footsteps. This is hard, Lord, it was hard for You; You sweated blood at the thought of it but You stepped forward when the time came. May Your Spirit give us that courage when we must so that we may save our life. Amen. “Let your light shine!!” Be blessed. Larry.