To read the texts click on the texts: Deut 4:32-40; Mt 16:24-28
In
Matthew, the sayings that form our text for today are addressed exclusively to
the disciples unlike in Mark where they are addressed to the crowds.
A disciple
must be prepared to follow the Master and even to the cross if need be. This is
the consequence of confessing Jesus as the Christ. The Son of Man has to
suffer, but will also be vindicated by God. The pronouncement “some standing
here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his
kingdom” (16:28) has been variously interpreted. Some think it refers to the
event of the Transfiguration, others think it refers to the Resurrection and
still others that it refers to Pentecost. However, it seems that Matthew’s
community expected that the Parousia (the second coming of the Lord) would
come soon, indeed before the death of some who belonged to the community, and
so there are some who think that this pronouncement refers to the Second coming
of the Lord.
Denial
of self means to count the self as nothing. While this sounds nice to hear and
sing in hymns, it requires grace from God if it is to be into practice. Jesus
had to constsntly overcome this temptation himself and challenges each of us
through his words but also through the example that he gave on the cross.
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