Day 2: A Daily Invitation

College can be a sacred time for people. It is a time to explore interests, engage across differences, and encounter questions of vocation. For the past seventeen years, I have had the privilege of walking with students during this beautiful, but sometimes rocky, time in their lives. My work within the Chaifetz School of Business at St. Louis University, where we strive to be the business school “Where Mission Meets the Market,” has taught me that college students often find themselves at the intersection between competing desires. On the one hand, they can desire a life of security through a lucrative job and income and with a clear roadmap to success. On the other hand, they can experience a longing for a life of service and community which is not always secure nor is the way forward always clear. While not always the case, these two movements can compete, leaving them frustrated and even experiencing a sense of paralysis. 

I can imagine that the disciples were experiencing a similar internal dynamic as it became clearer to them what following Jesus would require. They must, Jesus said, deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow him. While Jesus’ invitation can seem daunting, he also reveals the key to being a faithful follower. By focusing on the daily choices of discipleship we can learn that each new day is an opportunity to hit the “refresh” button, to both acknowledge our failings and to find renewal for the next step of our journey with God.

As we enter the Lenten season, what are some areas of your life where you are being challenged to daily follow Jesus? How can focusing on the daily dynamics of discipleship invigorate your own efforts to work for a more just world?