Memory of Jesus crucified
Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
This is the Gospel of the poor,
liberation for the imprisoned,
sight for the blind,
freedom for the oppressed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Matthew 16,24-28
Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will anyone gain by winning the whole world and forfeiting his life? Or what can anyone offer in exchange for his life? 'For the Son of man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his behaviour. In truth I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming with his kingdom.'
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
The Son of Man came to serve,
whoever wants to be great
should become servant of all.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Jesus' proposal to his disciples seems paradoxical to a self-centred mentality that guides our convictions and behaviours. In truth it expresses a deep wisdom that is revealed in the next sentence: "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." We think we can save our lives by holding back, looking for payback, possessing others, or seeking recognition and honour. Jesus warns us that spending our energy, time and strength to save ourselves, or, as people often say, to realize ourselves, actually leads us to lose ourselves, that is, to a life that is sad and often dysfunctional. Only if we live for the Lord, only if we plan on spending our life to love everyone, without any limits, just as Jesus did then we will taste the joy of life. What is it worth to gain the whole world if we are neither loved nor capable of loving? It is what Paul explains in his hymn to charity when he says that without charity, that is, without love, even the ability to do extraordinary things and perform great generous feats is useless. Only love never ends, and only the Lord saves us because only he teaches us what love is.