LOSING AND FINDING LIFE

Monday, 15^th Week in Ordinary Time            

            What are you willing to lose for Christ’s sake?

Are you willing to ‘lose’ your personal ambition and interest as you take on the mission God specifically intends for you?
Are you willing to ‘lose’ your comfort zone and convenience as you get personally involved in the life of service?
Are you willing to ‘lose’ some of your material possessions as you give, not from your surplus, but from your own need?
Are you willing to ‘lose’ your private-property attitude as you live with the true spirit of stewardship?
Are you willing to ‘lose’ the esteem and admiration of others as you give witness to Jesus and speak the gospel truths?
Are you willing to ‘lose’ your privilege and entitlement as you promote a deeper sense of community in your parish?
Are you willing to ‘lose’ some business opportunities as you condemn social injustice and violation of human rights?
Are you willing to ‘lose’ your ego and pride as you take the initiative to be reconciled with somebody?
Again, what are you willing to lose for Christ’s sake?

            “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Isn’t it strange that we save our life by losing it? Let me state one basic spiritual principle: It is only when energies go into the good of others, rather than just for our own good, that we can preserve and enhance our life. It means using our energies to serve others and uplift them, rather than using others for our own benefit. It means using our energies to promote the common good, rather than using our power to protect and further our interests.

            The way of “losing one’s life” for Christ’s sake is really difficult. Why? Because our self or our ‘ego’ is reluctant to die. It is reluctant to allow God to work in us, reluctant to trust that God will do great things through us when we follow Jesus’ way – which is the way of the cross, the way of self-giving love.

            As followers of Christ, we must challenge and change the standards of the world. We must remember this basic Christian principle: Life is given, not to keep for ourselves, but to spend for others. Life is always enhanced and made meaningful, not when it is kept tightly or hoarded selfishly, but when it is shared generously and spent selflessly.

            “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”