17 February , 2023 | Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

 Gospel Mk 8:34--9:1

Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake

and that of the Gospel will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world

and forfeit his life?

What could one give in exchange for his life?

Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words

in this faithless and sinful generation,

the Son of Man will be ashamed of

when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

He also said to them,

"Amen, I say to you,

there are some standing here who will not taste death

until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power."

Reflection

Our profession of faith in Christ as the Messiah leads us to embrace our daily cross as the sure way to life. Who is Jesus to each of us? We believe that Jesus is to us the Messiah, the Saviour who is the ‘Way’ to life.  How hard a Way it is! St. James asks, “What good is it to profess faith without practicing it?” Yes. Faith without good works has no power to save. Sorrows for Christ’s sake, whatever their source, are a blessing. United with him they become universally redemptive, as his own are. Sorrow shatters the illusion of one’s self-sufficiency, compelling us to look towards God. Therefore Jesus said: “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the Gospel will save it.”

Activity: 

If faith is the root of good works, a root that produces nothing is dead. Joy increases as we give it, and diminishes as we try to keep it for ourselves. Today call someone you dislike and have a cup of coffee/tea with that person.