Thursday April 4

Matthew 16:21-28

Lillian Wassell

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

For me, this passage is all about priorities, and how backward our priorities can become.

Jesus asks us to sacrifice our lives for others as he did. For us, this doesn’t mean to actually die as he had to do. This means to live a life of service in all that we do.

We are to share our gifts and our blessings, whatever they are. Jesus seems to say: what is most important, this material world, or the way life should be lived serving others? Being alive is nothing if we are not living for others and for our community. The reason life is so sacred is because we share it with and for the people around us. We are called to be generous in all that we have: time, material possessions, compassion, service to those who are in need. This is how we can become most like Jesus, and make our world more like heaven.

Questions for reflection:

• How have you lived a life of service?

• What gifts, talents, and blessings can you be more generous with, or are you already giving beyond what you are able to sustain?

Prayer:

Lord, send us the strength to give all that we have and to be open to receiving from others. Amen.