How to save a life

Gospel MK 8:34-9:1

Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“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
and that of the Gospel will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
What could one give in exchange for his life?
Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words
in this faithless and sinful generation,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of
when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

He also said to them,
“Amen, I say to you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death
until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power.”

Jesus doesn't pull any punches here.  He wants us to go all-in with our commitment to Him: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. "  Just like any relationship, I'm either in or out.  It's our choice isn't it?  We can choose to come after Jesus - or not.  Jesus doesn't force his way into a relationship with us - he leaves it up to us.  Jesus understanding that we get in our own way, calls us to deny ourselves - to let go of the needy, self-serving ego that can derail our best efforts.  To let go of attachments, to let go of desire.  He knows it will not be easy - when we follow Jesus, it means carrying our own cross, just as Jesus did.  I am losing an old life for a new life.  And when I embrace the life-saving message of the gospel I will know that Jesus is doing most of the heavy-lifting.