Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Friday of the 6th week in Ordinary Time, February 21, 2025

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Genesis 11: 1-9; Rs psalm 33: 10-11.12-13.14-15; Mark 8: 34 - 9: 1LOSINGOF ONESELF Ourmeditation today has the theme: Losing of Oneself. A teenage girl has justcelebrated her 17th birthday. She was very happy with the support ofher family and friends, because for her, the 17th birthday is thehighlight of her life as a teenager. There were many hopes and advicesexpressed to her, which certainly supported and strengthened her. Shehad the opportunity to give a speech on her special day. In her remark, as aprinciple for a good future, she quoted the words of St. James in the New Testamentthat says: faith without works is dead. She herself actually did not reallyunderstand this scriptural phrase. Afew days before her birthday celebration, she accompanied her mother shoppingat the market. This is the second time she accompanied her mother shopping,after the first one when she was still in elementary school. She just realizedat that time, when the mother was not in normal shape and movement whilepicking up and carrying the things bought. Herright hand was already somewhat paralyzed by a motorcycle accident in the pastwhile walking to the market. The teenager was very sorry for her mother who hasbeen working for the whole family, but only with her normal left hand.Departing from that moment which awakened her awareness, she no longer let hermother lift or carry heavy things, which could cause her more sufferings. Shemust always help her mother, to ease the workload of the mother. Thegirl understands that her mother already experienced losing of herself. Themother makes a great self-sacrifice for the sake of goodness and comfort in thefamily. She also increasingly understands that acts of love such as servingothers, sacrifice oneself for the good of others, willingness to lose oneself,workings for the greater glory of God are really true testimony of faith. So,she really made sense and had good reason to have that phrase from thescripture. Losingoneself or losing one's life is the main action of the Lord Jesus Christ, frombirth to His death on the cross. The point is that self-sacrifice is not forone's own benefit, but for the good of others and the greater interests ofpeople. It is precisely true that this act of love is the main condition forbeing a true follower of Christ and for achieving salvation. Anexperience of losing oneself or losing one's life must be manifested in realaction, and cannot be just in words or ideas. Therefore, conversations,teachings or sermons about losing of life cannot save us because it has notbecome a reality of doing an act love. Let's pray. In thename of the Father ... O Lord Jesus, may we always put into practice ourself-sacrifice following your example. Our Father who art in heaven .... In thename of the Father ...