Born losers

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me. For if you want to save your own life you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake you will find it. Will you gain anything if you win the whole world but lose your life? Of course not! There is nothing you can give to regain your life.’ (verses 24-26)

Read Matthew 16:21-28

No doubt Jesus’ disciples were his dedicated followers. They hung on his every word, gave up their homes and families to follow him, were prepared to defend him at the drop of a head covering and admired him immensely. There was a part of them, however, which thought that throwing in their lot with him would make them sure winners. Surely, sooner or later, he would use his powers for political greatness; at least they would be granted positions of honour in the next world.

We can fall into the same trap, seeing Christian faith as the gateway to success and prosperity, a way of coming out on top.

The truth is that thinking so selfishly is what makes us such losers. Only when we can deny our desires and dedicate ourselves to true service to God and our fellow creatures are we free to win through to the life God made us for. He who achieved greatness by self-sacrifice showed us the true way to peace and fulfilment.

Dear God, help me to lose myself in order to find you. Amen.

by Richard Hauser, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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