It is the Lord who deals death and life. Det 32:39
And He has given us His Blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins so that we have hope of eternal life with Him. Matt 26:28
Are we then fulfilling the claim that we are His disciples by taking up our cross to follow Him? Have we embraced wholeheartedly that we will truly rise with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ when die?
Yes indeed the first step is to die to ourselves, so as to live fully in His presence. To renounce all that is not of Him and to grow in Holiness. But how have we laid down our lives for others for His namesake? What corporal and spiritual acts of mercy have we performed yesterday and today? Not 5, 10 years ago! How many souls have been redeemed by our sacrifice?
If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Amen (Rm 14:8)
First reading
Nahum 2:1,3,3:1-3,6-7
Israel restored; Nineveh ruined
See, over the mountains the messenger hurries!
‘Peace!’ he proclaims.
Judah, celebrate your feasts,
carry out your vows,
for Belial will never pass through you again;
he is utterly annihilated.
Yes, the Lord is restoring the vineyard of Jacob
and the vineyard of Israel.
For the plunderers had plundered them,
they had broken off their branches.
Woe to the city soaked in blood,
full of lies,
stuffed with booty,
whose plunderings know no end!
The crack of the whip!
The rumble of wheels!
Galloping horse,
jolting chariot,
charging cavalry,
flash of swords,
gleam of spears…
a mass of wounded,
hosts of dead,
countless corpses;
they stumble over the dead.
I am going to pelt you with filth,
shame you, make you a public show.
And all who look on you will turn their backs on you and say,
‘Nineveh is a ruin.’
Could anyone pity her?
Where can I find anyone to comfort her?
Gospel
Matthew 16:24-28
Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour. I tell you solemnly, there are some of these standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom.’
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