In being his disciples we can expect suffering, but we can expect a hope that leads us through it . . .

Dt 30:15-20
Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

Luke 9:22-25 "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (23) And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (24) For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. (25) For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

Meditation by Teresa Seale (Creighton)

The first reading from Deuteronomy gives a great message of hope even in it’s warning that in turning away from God we will “certainly perish.” God has given us a choice, and while the description of “doom” is nothing for which to have hope, we have a great hope simply because we have been given a choice. The choice we are called to make is clear: “Choose life, then.” This is easy: of course we choose life! For what reason would we choose “death and doom”?

Yet, as St. Paul says in Romans 7, “What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate.” We long to choose life, but we are so constantly pulled back by selfishness into a life of sin. There is an awesome hope in choosing life over death, but the best kind of hope comes when we realize that once we make that choice, God is upholding us, leading us in virtue closer and closer to himself. As the Psalm says, “For the Lord watches over the way of the just.” In choosing to fall humbly at his feet, renewing our commitment even when we fail, he will watch over us.

The hope offered in Deuteronomy is appropriately supplemented by the message of suffering that we find in the Gospel of Luke. Christ chose life and still he suffered; to be a disciple of Christ includes suffering. We cannot expect to be freed from every kind of suffering just because we have chosen the path of life. Like Christ, his disciple “must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” But this should not be a cause of distress since Jesus also says, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Jesus offers us a message of hope. In being his disciples we can expect suffering, but we can expect a hope that leads us through it, nearer to him, nearer to the fullness of life that we have chosen.

Supplementary Reading
Wonderfully Made

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." – Psalm 139:14

The pinnacle of God's creation, even more majestic than earth itself, is the creation that means the most to him—you! God was pleased with his creation. After he created the heavens, he said, "This is good!" After he created the earth and the animals, he said, "This is good!" We are God's children, his masterpiece, and we have all been fearfully and wonderfully made.

Too often, however, we fail to appreciate the unique and valued individuals that we are. We compare ourselves and try to measure up to others or try to be the kind of person we think we need to be. Look in the mirror and say in unison with God, your Creator, "This is good!"

* * *

Come up with a list of positive personal traits and life experiences that are unique to you. Read the list out loud prefacing each descriptor with the words, "Thank you, God for making me....[fill in the personal trait] or for allowing me to…[fill in the unique life experience]."
* * *

GOD BLESS US ALL!
Many who plan to seek God at the 11th hour, die at 10:30 -Unknown
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com

Devotions taken from the
"Power for Life Daily Devotional."

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You have to accentuate the positive,eliminate the negative,and latch on to the affirmative.Don't mess with "Mr. In-between".~Louis Armstrong

In being his disciples we can expect suffering, but we can expect a hope that leads us through it . . .

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