God is Deeply in Love with Us!
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. – John 12:25
Jesus tells us in the gospel on this fifth Sunday in Lent that we must lay down our lives for our sisters and brothers. We are told that we must “hate our life in this world.” That statement is hard to understand, isn’t it?
I think what it means is that we need to keep our eyes on the long game which is eternity. I think it also means that we are called to die to ourselves in this life; to set aside our needs in order to lift up others and their needs. In practical ways, this kind of behavior may look like a mom putting aside meal preparation to listen to her school age daughter read another page of her story. It may be an adult child skipping a lunch date with friends to spend time with his mom. It may be putting down the newspaper to really listen to your spouse. It may be holding a friend in his hour of sorrow when you’d rather be at the gym.
When we make sacrifices for others, we are helping to build the Kingdom of God on earth. And as we help to build the Kingdom on earth, we are moving closer to becoming the saints we are called to be.
Today, may we take time to look for ways to “hate this life” and put others needs before our own. Then, as Jesus promises, “…whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.”
Jesus, I trust in you.
©Mary V. Pribbenow