The Bottom Line

August 31: Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time:

Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2,3-4,5-6,8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship?.

The Bottom Line

“Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25

Jeremiah wanted to quit: “I say to myself, I will speak in his name no more.” It is discouraging to be humans trying to persuade humans to live and act like God—and to bring peace to earth by remaking society according to God’s standards. Who wouldn’t get discouraged?

But Baptism committed us to this:  “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice… Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed”—and transform society.

Jesus tells us the first transformation is to accept life on his terms: we must die to ourselves and all human expectations, and focus only on offering ourselves in love.

“Take up your cross, and follow me” means 1. to endure whatever falls on our shoulders as a result of the sin of the world and love back; 2. to “lose our lives”—our time, energy, hopes, pleasures and deepest relationships—and “find them” again by living for one thing only: to establish the reign of God on earth.

This is “total abandonment.” No wonder the first pope couldn’t accept it. But God gave Peter time—and gives us time. The bottom line is, this is all we have time for.

PRAY and PRACTICE:  Abandon yourself all day long through the “WIT” prayer: “Lord, act With me, act In me, act Through me.” Live only to love.