First Reading (Nahum 2:1.3.3,1-3.6-7)
Reading from the Prophecy of Nahum.
“Behold, upon the mountains the footsteps of a messenger, announcing peace. O Judah, celebrate your feasts, fulfill your vows; Belial shall never again tread upon your land; he is destroyed. The Lord will restore the greatness of Jacob, and the greatness of Israel, for robbers have plundered them and ravaged their vineyards. 3 Woe to you, bloodthirsty city, full of deceit, full of plunder and endless plundering! The cracking of whips, the rumbling of wheels, the neighing of horses, the roaring of raging chariots, the charging of horsemen, the flashing of swords and the glittering of spears, the slaughter without number, the slain in heaps; the corpses without end, the stumbling over the bodies. I will bring down upon you your abominations, and I will heap insults on your face; I will make you an example. So that all who see you will flee far away, saying, ‘Nineveh is in ruins! Who will have compassion on her? Where can she find someone to comfort her?'”
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Matthew 16:24-28)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
— Glory to you, O Lord.
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what good will it be for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life? What will a man give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some of those standing here who will not see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
What powerful images are these that today’s readings present to us! The prophet Nahum describes a scene of destruction—a city under siege, bombarded, its splendor reduced to rubble. And in the Gospel, Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to lose our lives. It sounds like a scene of chaos and pain. But in fact, these words carry a message of hope and transformation.
Let’s begin with Nahum’s prophecy. He sees the city of Nineveh, once so glorious and imposing, being torn to pieces. It is compared to “a pool of water in the day of the flood.” What a striking contrast! In an instant, what seemed unshakable is swept away by the torrent of God’s justice.
But why does God act this way? Why does He allow His own creation to be destroyed in such a violent way? The answer lies in the character of Nineveh. This city represented everything that was contrary to God’s ways—cruelty, oppression, injustice. It was a symbol of evil that needs to be confronted and defeated.
Beloved, this prophecy is not just a distant historical account. It is a reminder of the need to confront evil in our own lives and in the society around us. How often do we close our eyes to injustice, settling for our own comfort? How often do we neglect our calling to be salt and light in this world?
Like Nineveh, there is much that needs to be destroyed in ourselves and in our world. Not God’s creations, but the empires of evil that build their walls of pride and oppression. Not the beauty of life, but the idols that rob us of the true worship of God.
This is why Jesus speaks to us with such urgency in today’s Gospel. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” These are not words to be taken lightly. They demand a radical transformation in the way we think and live.
Denying ourselves – This means giving up our selfishness, our thirst for power and control. It is leaving behind the false self constructed by our desires and ambitions, so that we can put on the new self created in the image of Christ.
Taking up your cross – This is not just passively accepting suffering. It is consciously choosing to carry the weight of faithfulness to God, even when it costs us comfort, acceptance, or even security. It is being willing to die to ourselves so that we can live for Christ.
Following me – This is not simply imitating Jesus from afar. It is a call to a journey of discipleship, in which we abandon our own agenda and surrender ourselves completely to His leadership. It is letting Him be the Lord of our lives, following in His footsteps even when the path is difficult.
This is a big demand, my beloved. No wonder Jesus warns, “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
But let us not deceive ourselves—this “loss” is not an end in itself. It is the path to true life. It is the death of the self that leads to the birth of the new being in Christ. It is suffering that gives birth to glory.
For, as Jesus reminds us, “the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” On that day, those who have denied themselves, taken up their cross, and followed Jesus will be rewarded. Those who have clung desperately to their own lives will discover that they have lost it.
Now, you may be asking yourself, “How can I have the strength to undertake this difficult journey?” My beloved, the answer is in the same Gospel passage. Jesus does not leave us alone in this endeavor. He promises that some of those present “will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
What does this mean? It means that even before the fullness of the final reward, God will give us glimpses of His glory, foretastes of the Kingdom to come. Perhaps it will be a moment of deep communion with Him during prayer. Perhaps it will be unexpected joy in the midst of suffering. Perhaps it will be the renewal of your inner strength when all seems lost.
These are the “oases” that God gives us, to remind us that His presence and His power are with us, even when the path is difficult. It is as Nahum describes God: “The Lord is good, a refuge in the day of trouble; he knows those who trust in him.”
My dear brothers and sisters, the world today seems to be on fire, like the city of Nineveh. The forces of evil seem to reign, and many times we feel powerless in the face of them. But let us not lose hope!
God will raise up His servants, those who are willing to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Jesus. They will be His instruments to confront evil, overturn the “empires” that oppress and destroy the idols that seduce humanity.
And when this work of judgment and purification is complete, we will see the glory of God fully manifested. Those who have lost their lives for the love of Christ will find it in all its fullness. Those who have carried their cross will be clothed with the majesty of the Kingdom of God.
Therefore, my beloved, do not be afraid. Do not run away from Jesus’ call. Instead, embrace it with joy and determination. Deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow Him. For He promises you that even if the world hates and persecutes you, He will be your refuge and your strength.
And when you reach the end of your journey, you will hear the Master’s sweet words: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will set you over many things. Come and share in the joy of your Lord!”
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
