[2 Kgs. 4:8-12a, 14-17;
Rom. 6:3-4, 8-11; Mt. 10:37-42]
The first part of the Gospel is a call to make a radical choice as
Christians. From putting love of God before everyone we come immediately to the
cross and self denial. We cannot live comfortably if we are Christians. It reminds us that when we become followers
of Christ, it really does change our priorities “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”
of Christ, it really does change our priorities “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”
There are crosses in our lives that we will surely find very difficult to accept. We cannot escape it. Wherever we look we find it. We will find it in our personal life. We will find it in our family. We will find it in our work place. We will find it in our society. It is not possible to avoid it or escape from it. These are the challenges and struggles of life. These challenges are part and parcel of our life.
Parents have challenges in communicating with their own children. Parents find it difficult to accept the thoughts and ideas of their children. They cannot tolerate the attitude of the growing generation. Children on the other hand complain that parents are not able to understand them. Their behaviour, their actions and their associations are looked at with suspicion. What is the common reaction to these struggles and challenges. We try to ignore them or try to divert our attention from them by engaging in something trivial. However, the issues remain as issues. Today’s gospel tells us ”take up your cross.” Face your challenges and problems. They should be means to strengthen our character.
We have similar challenges in our society.
Today the world is being torn apart because all are trying to
assert their positions. In the family the father tries to make others feel that
he is the most important man and without him the family
cannot exist meaningfully. The mother feels that she is the most
important and she tries to push her way forward. The children too feel the
same. What is the result ? Utter confusion, lack of understanding, inability to
tolerate one another. Here comes the message of Christ. “Those who
find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will
find it.”
Millions and millions of human beings lived on this earth.
But we remember only very few names. We tell the stories of only very
few. We retain memories of only very few. They are the people who were ready to
lose their life for the sake of others.
When Air Florida Flight 90 smashed into a frozen lake in the middle of a
snowstorm, all but six passengers were killed. Some 20 minutes later, a
helicopter arrived to rescue the survivors. After getting one man to
safety, the helicopter threw a life-ring to Arland Williams… who
immediately gave it to the passenger next to him. When the helicopter came
back for a third time, he did the same thing again and again. When the
helicopter came back a final time, Arland was dead. He’d
used his last ounce of strength to save a complete stranger. This act of
sacrifice made him immortal. If he had accepted the life ring and tried to
secure his life, no one would have remembered him.
Dear brothers and sisters we need not look for such great opportunities
of sacrificing our lives. But we can do it in little ways in our day to
day life. The Gospel tell us to leave our comfort zone and stretch
ourselves to do little acts of love that will bring great comfort to
others.
May God help us to make our little lives meaningful.
Satish