by Renae Bauer
Communications Director
Self-preservation is instinctual, which is probably why Sunday's readings are so challenging. They speak of losing everything "here" in return for everything "there." Why does Jesus ask us to sacrifice so much?
The full answer isn't necessarily ours to know. After saying, "(W)hoever loses his life for my sake will find it," Jesus explains, "For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct." We are not to conform to this age; we are to prepare for something more to come. Yet, none of us knows what exactly heaven or eternal life is like.
Perhaps we'd be more willing to give up everything if we understood exactly what we will receive in return. But that's not going to happen, as far as I know. I'd like to believe that the sweetness of eternal life is not ours to know today because our minds can't comprehend how amazing it is. Even so, Scripture hints at what heaven is like: Our Father's house (John 14:2); paradise (2 Cor. 12:4); and a dimension that is free of tears, pain and death (Rev. 21:4).
When, because of my faith, I feel "duped" or the "object of laughter" (as described in Jeremiah) I need to remember another passage from Jeremiah: "The Lord is with me, like a mighty champion" (20:11). His aid alone makes all things possible.
I like your thinking and your thought processes, Renae!
"Losing our life, our self, our ego in God" is truly a life's work! But such an amazing work it is! I have heard it described as becoming less and less SELF-conscious and more and more GOD- (Truth / Love / Light) Conscious. Which one of us doesn't want (long for) that?!
Thank you, Renae, good Scriptural references.
Mysteries of the events and people in our lives...trusting that God is with us in all of them and leading when we least feel like it. Thank you Renae!