THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE SERVITE ORDER (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

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. 

Finders keepers, losers weepers! We’re all familiar with the way this simple rhyme from our youth became the law governing the playground. Jesus’ words today bear a striking resemblance to this old saying except for one crucial difference: for Jesus, the “losers” are the ones who come out ahead. Why? Because they are the ones who gain salvation.

Of course, countless people over the years have literally lost their lives for their faith. For us, the losses involved in following Jesus may not be as costly as martyrdom, but they are real nonetheless. For example, you may sense the Lord asking you to forgive a family member who has wronged you—even when you think they don’t deserve it. Or what about having to decline an invitation to meet up with old friends because you know that attending could cause you to compromise the person you have become? Or maybe you feel called to give up some of the little free time you have in order to serve the poor. Each of these is a kind of “death” or “loss.”

Yet what we gain by following Jesus pales in comparison to such losses—and we don’t even have to wait until heaven to enjoy them! Our salvation deepens every time we say yes to Jesus. We experience the peace of knowing that we are loved, forgiven, and reconciled with God. We know the joy of encountering Jesus in prayer and receiving his life in the Eucharist. And we can sense the Spirit guiding us and empowering us to do his will. All of these “gains” far outweigh the pain and sacrifice of denying ourselves and taking up our crosses (Mark 8:34).

Yielding to Jesus can be difficult; it’s not something we can accomplish in a single moment. It’s a lifelong process that requires emptying ourselves of all that we cling to so that we can receive the fullness of life that God intended for us. This life begins here, but it lasts for eternity. May we always see it clearly and desire it above all else!

“Jesus, give me the grace to lose my life for you.”

Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 33:10-15
Mark 8:34-9:1