to save your life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it. What does it profit you to gain the whole world,
if you destroy or damage yourself?

Reflection:

Every truthful guru will teach you that authentic religion is
paradoxical in its practice, koanlike. It destroys our common
sensical safety-first approaches to life and burns the bridges
on both ends as we pass. Look at the first reading today: God
places before us two options: life and death, and he invites
us to choose life. But what he leaves unsaid, or rather, leaves
for Christ to clarify through his word and deed, is that the only
way to choose life is by choosing death! The Son of Man will die
only to rise again into life. And if anyone wants to follow Him, she
or he must deny oneself, lose life, embrace death, so as to find life
in is fullness. The more we cling to life, greater the danger of
losing it permanently. What you let go, comes back to you, more
intimately and permanently than ever.

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