Life As A Loser

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Growing up as an American boy I was taught that I have to win. To win at a game was good and it proved to all that you were the best. One day, in the fall, we were at Kelly Park and were playing a game of tackle football.  We were all dressed for the game, of course, we had sweatshirts and blue jeans as our protective gear.  For whatever reason, this time, my best friend, Big Jim, had been selected to play for the other team. The game went on and my team was getting the better of Big Jim's team.  Of course, because he was my friend, I spent a lot of time consoling Jim except the word taunting would fit much better here.  I was having a heck of a good time because for once I was on a winning team.  The insults and taunts kept spewing through the air aimed directly at the ego of my best friend. It was going to be the last play and in the huddle, it was decided that the ball would be thrown to me and since it was the last play and we were so far ahead it didn't matter if I caught it or not.  The play went off perfectly.  The quarterback feinted left, feinted right, and let loose an easy to catch pass.  Once the ball was dead, the game would be over and my team would be the winners. I could have done anything with that ball. I chose to catch it. No sooner than it was safely in my hands, I was upended by a freight train named Big Jim. I flew into the air and since what goes up must come down, I found the earth, my head hitting first, and in a blaze of light, I said good-night as my head hit the earth full force and consciousness temporarily left me.  Sometimes being the winner can be very painful. 

What Jesus is asking us to do here is to strive to become a loser.  One of the definitions of a loser is a person that is put at a disadvantage by a particular situation or course of action. What we are asked to do is to bring our "A" game out when it comes to being a follower of Christ.  We must take up the cross and follow our leader. This means that sometimes we will need to say "no" to ourselves in situations where a "yes" would be far easier to tolerate. 

I think that what is required of us, is to realize that what awaits us is worth the trip.  Our cross may be heavy but the reward at the end will be worth it. Winning is a good thing. Winning by doing good is a better thing.  If we spend our lives engaging in everything we feel like doing and making ourselves happy, we will most certainly be living in the way that leads to perdition. On the other hand, If we take time and inconvenience ourselves, work for the good of others, be charitable and not to count the cost, then we will find at the end of the road, not a cross, but paradise. 

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE -REMEMBER THE POOR SOULS IN PURGATORY TODAY!