In what areas do you need to die to yourself? - Daily Reflections August 9,2013

DYING IN FAITH IS LIVING IN GRACE

 

Jesus delivers the final blow to His Apostles: “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever chooses to save his life will lose it, but the one who loses his life for my sake will find it. What will one gain by winning the whole world if he destroys himself. There is nothing he can give to recover his own self” (Matthew16:24-26).

       Jesus now reveals that He must die, as part of God’s plan and His mission. Jesus is cutting through the very heart of Christian life — that nothing, not even death, could stop or deter Jesus from fulfilling His Father’s will. In the same way, every Christian should do the same. Following the Father’s will comes first in a Christian’s life.

       This teaching serves as an encouragement or discouragement to people, both from Jesus’ time up to the present time. People join, reject or depart from the Christian faith because of this “hard” teaching. But it lies at the very core of Christian life. Death is not the end of life. It is not a reason not to follow the Father’s will. Death, in fact, is part of life. Death or dying is not only physical; it is also dying to one’s self. One may die to his pride (versus humility), his desperation (versus hope), his hatred (versus love), etc. Jesus died for our sins. While He is sinless, He bore our sin that we may have life eternal.

       During our fund-raising for the reconstruction of our burned church in Saint Alphonsus Mary De Liguori Parish in Makati City, the children of a family proposed to their father a way to donate. Since they go out for dinner after Mass every Sunday, they told their father that they were willing to dine at home, provided the amount saved will be donated. The father, seeing how his children were willing to make sacrifices for a worthy cause, even doubled the amount.

       The grace and opportunity to physically die for the Lord may not come to everyone. But everyone always has the opportunity to die to self. May we always embrace those opportunities. Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: In what areas do you need to die to yourself?

 

Lord Jesus, I am still so full of myself. Grant me the grace to let go of my excesses and instead be full of Your virtues.