Matthew 16:24-28
Finding Life
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Jesus does not offer an easy path to life. Wealth, prestige, "the easy life" are not part of the equation which results in true happiness and fulfillment. No, it is the cross of self-denial, of values contrary to what the world holds sacrosanct that gives true life. The paradox of "less is more" is at play here. In self denial we gain ;more than we forgo. Let us pray to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, whose memorial we celebrate today, for the wisdom and courage to choose less, to choose the cross instead of ease and comfort. We will gain more than we lose.
Bro. Rene
Dear God, guide me along the road of self-denial in order that I might find life in you. Amen
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