Today’s first reading from Nahum is a prophetic book containing a collection of poems announcing the downfall of one of Israel’s worst oppressors, Assyria and its capital city Nineveh. The Assyrians were one of the world’s first great empires. Their expansion into Israel resulted in the total destruction and exile of the northern kingdom and its tribes. The Assyrian armies were so violent and destructive that the world had never experienced before. Israel and its neighbors were awaiting the downfall of Assyria, which eventually came in the year 612 BC through the hands of the Babylonians who began a rebellion that overtook Nineveh and brought down the Assyrian Empire. Chapter 2 describes the battle of Nineveh and the overthrow of the city.

Yesterday Peter, John and James witnessed a transfigured Jesus in all His glory and God saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Today, Jesus tells his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Wait, what Jesus? Deny myself, carry my cross, and follow you? Surrender myself completely to You and obey Your will? Forgo my ego and live as an others-centred person? This is the only way to follow You, and the only way I will find my life? But Lord, I’m so weak. Give me the strength and courage to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you. And in doing so I gain You. John 12:24 says, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”