Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

Psalm 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 and 21

M atthew 16:24-28  Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (25) For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (26) For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? (27) For the Son of man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay every man for what he has done. (28) Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." 

M editation by Susan Tinley

Two of our grandsons spent the night last night. It was a great time of fun and laughter, but their parents have picked them up and the house  is so quiet again. Even the dogs who jumped and chased after the boys are now napping in the sun. I have been drawn outside by the most unusual weather. The norm for us at this time of year is hot and humid but instead it is cool and dry. The blue of the sky is broken occasionally by white fluffy clouds and a myriad of birds each singing its own song.  In the woods behind our house the sunshine that  filters through the leaves is dancing with the breeze. It all prompts strong feelings of peace and gratitude for all that God has created and I marvel at these fortunes with which I have been blessed. 

As I start to reflect on the  gospel for August 7, I wonder how willing I would be to deny myself and take up my cross to follow Jesus.  Does he really want me to give up the pleasures of this day or the pleasures of any other day?  It does not seem like that would make much sense since it is his work of creation that is the source of my pleasures.  Rather, I think He has given me life’s pleasures for my happiness and as a reminder of his love.  In a few days, the weather will return to the usual normal hot muggy pattern of late July, and the comforts and pleasures of this day will be replaced with other reminders of God’ love as long as I am open to them.

I think Jesus is reminding us that God is the source of all that we have, whether that be a share in his beautiful creation, material possessions, talents, physical attractiveness, relationships with family and friends,etc.  We have done nothing to earn God’s gifts, they are given to us to draw us closer to Him.  It is in acknowledging their source and using the gifts in ways that give praise to God, that we deny our egos of the self-centered belief that we have done something to earn them or have a right to them. It is in that kind of self-denial that we open ourselves to God’s love as said in the prayer from St. Ignatius of Loyola:

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.

S upplementary Reading

Life Gives You What You Expect by  John C. Maxwell

What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. – Job 22:28

The happiest people in life don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just try to make the best of everything. They're like the person in a remote village going to a well everyday to get water who says, "Every time I come to this well, I come away with my bucket full!" instead of, "I can't believe I have to keep coming back to this well to fill up my bucket."

A person's attitude has a profound influence on his approach to life. Ask a coach before a big game whether his attitude and that of his players will make a difference in the outcome of the game. Ask a surgeon if the patient's attitude matters when she's trying to save that life in an emergency room. Ask a teacher if students' attitudes have an impact before they take a test.

One of the things I've learned is that life often gives you whatever you expect from it. If you expect bad things, those are what you get. If you expect good things, you often receive them. I don't know why it works that way, but it does. If you don't believe me, try it out. Give yourself thirty days in which you expect the best of everything: the best parking place, the best table in the restaurant, the best interaction with clients, the best treatment from service people. You'll be surprised by what you encounter, especially if you give your very best to others in every situation as well.

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Begin your 30-day trail of expecting the best of everything.

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