We save our lives by investing our ambitions in the success of others.

Friday, 2/17/17

We like some of the things Jesus said in today’s Gospel. Like, he sounds profound in saying, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.” And, “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”  

More precisely, what does he mean by saving or losing one’s life?

Let me give a round-about answer to that. I have heard that Psychology teaches us that we cannot picture ourselves as being no more. Since our being here is all we have ever known, we lack the experience of seeing ourselves no longer existing.

Even as we grow older, weaker, and less unsuccessful we cherish the delusion of going on and on. It is a doomed hope.

There is, however, one way in which we can go on prospering. It is by taking the great big ME out of our dreams, investing our efforts in bright futures for our family, our country, and the most needy people around us.