Holding On or Letting Go

What do you hold on to, that you should let go? It might be to give up unhealthy habits such as smoking. Or to turn off the TV on time in order to get sufficient sleep. Or to stop using abusive language that takes energy from family members, friends and colleagues and rather taking own responsibility for one's life and happiness. Or it might be to give back something stolen. Or simply to stop being angry and spreading a bad mood. Whatever it might be, Jesus encourages us to give up those things which he has shown us individually in everyone's situation. To let go the matters that are not healthy, which are not good for the future. And rather to follow Jesus, to serve God and to share the good news. Because what benefit would it be, if someone gained this whole world but lost one's soul? It is worthwhile to think about that and the topic is also addressed in the gospel to Mark chapter 8 [34 - 38]: When Jesus had called the people to himself along with his disciples, he said to them "Those who want to follow me need to say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses, and follow me. As my follower, you have to give up your own ways, setting aside selfish interests. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Do not be ashamed of me and my message among these unfaithful and sinful people, says the Lord. If you are ashamed and deny the good news, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. But whoever gives priority to God and his good news over the interests of this world, participates in the kingdom of God here and in eternity. In other words, we are called to let go certain matters in this world, such as unhealthy habits, and rather so to take up one's cross, means to  express and pursue a willingness to endure whatever may come and to follow Jesus, believing in him, conforming to his example in living and, if need be, to suffering and to give up whatever required, giving the priority in life to God over everything else, to let go of all harmful matters of this life. To what do you hold on that you should let go?Let's pray: Lord, you know all the unhealthy matters that we hold on to, that are bad for our future and have negative consequences. Please help us to identify them an