Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson

Today in Mark's gospel, Jesus begins by predicting that even though he has many followers - that he's winning the race, that things are going well - still, he will suffer his passion, his death and his resurrection. His followers don't get it! Here they are giving up their lives for someone who says he's going to die up on the cross? But Jesus quickly reminds them that ultimate victory ALWAYS surrounds the cross.


Fast forward to 2012: what is our view of what it REALLY means to succeed; what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ; what it means to live life to its fullest?? It's not necessarily great success, continued success and then great victory. In fact, Jesus reminds us that its the very opposite: its about our struggles - the pain in our lives - those crosses we must endure.


As Psalm 116 says: "In the land of the living, I will walk with God all my days." The key is to recognize that WE ARE ALL on the same journey to ultimate victory, and to see a common-ness that says: I'm you, and you're me.


"The Church Downstairs" story link

©Commonweal Magazine, July 13, 2012 issue

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