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”
There are crosses in our lives that we will surely
find very difficult to accept. We cannot escape it. Where ever 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
meaning fully. 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