Life
Friday 18th week ordinary time
(Matthew 16:24-28)
For those who believe in feng shui, today is a good day because of the good number 8-8-2008. Many couples choose today as their time for their weddings because of that ‘good day”. Maybe, that is also the reason why the Olympic will start today, exactly this evening at 8.08pm. But for us who have faith in God every day is a good day everything we have is an out-right gift from God. We owe him everything, including our very lives – our day by day lives.
In our short Gospel passage, the word “life” is mentioned four times. Indeed God is life, and this is a gift he shares with us through his Spirit. The word of the Lord reminds us that we must ask ourselves: “What will a person give in exchange for his or her life?”That is, how can we make a return for the gift of life that the Lord gave us?
L = live life. We must discover our intended purpose in life. God works with a purpose. Then we must pursue that purpose. This is greatness. It is measured not against what others do; it is measured against what we are supposed to do.
I = intimacy, not just acquaintances. We must not live inwardly for ourselves, but outwardly for God, and for others. We must pour ourselves out in relationships that are meaningful and humanizing. What defines our relevance in life is this: the live we have touched.
F = fullness. In whatever it is that we are engaged in: let us put our whole selves into it. The Lord says, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.” To try to do something and to try to “save my life” is mediocrity. St. Ireneus said the glory of God is in the human being fully alive.
E = empty yourself. Do not be afraid – excel, transcend, give life your best all the time.
(Matthew 16:24-28)
For those who believe in feng shui, today is a good day because of the good number 8-8-2008. Many couples choose today as their time for their weddings because of that ‘good day”. Maybe, that is also the reason why the Olympic will start today, exactly this evening at 8.08pm. But for us who have faith in God every day is a good day everything we have is an out-right gift from God. We owe him everything, including our very lives – our day by day lives.
In our short Gospel passage, the word “life” is mentioned four times. Indeed God is life, and this is a gift he shares with us through his Spirit. The word of the Lord reminds us that we must ask ourselves: “What will a person give in exchange for his or her life?”That is, how can we make a return for the gift of life that the Lord gave us?
L = live life. We must discover our intended purpose in life. God works with a purpose. Then we must pursue that purpose. This is greatness. It is measured not against what others do; it is measured against what we are supposed to do.
I = intimacy, not just acquaintances. We must not live inwardly for ourselves, but outwardly for God, and for others. We must pour ourselves out in relationships that are meaningful and humanizing. What defines our relevance in life is this: the live we have touched.
F = fullness. In whatever it is that we are engaged in: let us put our whole selves into it. The Lord says, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.” To try to do something and to try to “save my life” is mediocrity. St. Ireneus said the glory of God is in the human being fully alive.
E = empty yourself. Do not be afraid – excel, transcend, give life your best all the time.
