The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, June 26, 2005
The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16
Psalm 89:2-3, 16-19
Romans 6:3-4, 8-11
Matthew 10:37-42

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Whoever finds his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it….

Losing ones’ life is the decision to prefer God, God Who is Life eternal, over the temptations to attach temporally to what dies.

Attachment to what is not “our cross” is a failure to “follow” Jesus Who redeems into Life what is dead by “attaching” or crucifying what fails to the pure and total gift of self. Unless we take up “our cross” and follow Him in this Way, we are “not worthy of Jesus.” We lose He Who is our Life.

Choosing to die to self, empties one of all that would displace Jesus Who is Life. Filled with His presence, we “receive Him and the One Who sent Him.”

Created by God in time and mortality, each soul is given the free will to choose in this time to co-respond to the creative “I have loved you first” love. Espoused, we cooperate with His Love to bring His Life to life.

Lord grace us to choose to relinquish all that is of self or that diverts self from Love of You and others in order to “find” Life eternal. With ever-grateful hearts may we embrace the sweetness of our gift of cross in You for Life. Amen.

- Mary Williams
(www.impactbydesign.biz)

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