Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”  Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

 

Today’s Gospel reading proclaims the coming of the Passion of Christ and the need for self denial. Jesus asks each of us a very simple question, “Are we ready for the journey?” Jesus tells his disciples that “the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” The message is meant to open the eyes of his disciples so that they can see who he is and why he was sent to earth. He also tells them this so they can understand their own mission. We are told that no matter what happens to us, if we give up our life to Christ, we will rise up triumphant in the end. To gain eternal life, we must follow Christ. To follow Christ, you must be willing to deny yourself and carry the cross of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified, he was joined by two other men who were crucified with him; one man accepted Jesus and one man denied him. We must chose which cross we want to bear, the cross of good or the cross of evil. Which cross will you chose this Lent? Our materialistic world can appear to be appealing and desirable. The material things in our lives can become the god that we worship. If we are not careful, our spiritual life can be dominated by our material desires. The material things such as new cars, fancy expensive clothes, the latest IPod or Xbox can become more important than honoring God and walking in His ways. If these things become the most important thing in your life, then you have lost site of the true cross. If Christ were to walk into your home, which altar would he find. Would he even know that you are Christian? “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

 

A Simple Prayer

 

"Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work.

I give you my feet to go your way.

I give you my eyes to see as you do.

I give you my tongue to speak your words.

I give you my mind that you may think in me.

I give you my spirit that you may pray in me.

Above all, I give you my heart that you may love in me, your Father, and all mankind.

I give you my whole self that you may grow in me, so that it is you, Lord Jesus, who lives and works and prays in me."

(Prayer from The Grail)

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon