The people of Israel were privileged. God chose them as his own. In the first reading today from Deuteronomy 4, Moses again reminds them of all the marvelous things that God has done for them. And he entreats them once again to keep all of the commandments and statutes of the LORD.
In the Gospel reading from Matthew 16, Jesus talks about denying oneself, taking up one’s cross and following Him. He then asks two seemingly rhetorical questions: What profit would there be to gain the whole word and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? I say seemingly rhetorical because they do have answers. They are none and nothing, in that order.
How much is your soul worth? A new car? A promotion at work? What about a shiny new mansion? All the latest creature comforts? Too small? How about a Powerball jackpot? I feel pretty safe in assuming that you answered no to all of those options. Yet isn’t it funny that we expend so much time and energy chasing after these very things and so much more. Interestingly, your soul has already been bought and paid for. Jesus did that on the cross. But you get to decide whether you want to return it to Him in the end. When we seek out riches, we may or may not find them. But when we seek out Christ, we will surely find Him.
Father, forgive for all the time that we spend chasing after the things of the world. Teach us to keep our focus on Christ that we may gain eternity with you. Amen.
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