Daily Reflection for Friday, November 13, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners!
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111320.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 2 John 4-9
Responsorial: Psalm 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18
Gospel: Luke 17:26-37
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. (Luke 17:33)
This verse from today’s gospel caught my attention and made me think about some of the ways I may be consciously and unconsciously seeking to “preserve” my life, about all the things I am attached to and cling to.
I have more material possessions than I need, and struggle to both divest of the excess and resist the urge to add to the stockpile by buying the latest “whatever.” And having an accumulation of material possessions often comes with a fear of losing them through burglary or theft, accidental damage or destruction or natural disaster. I often think, what would it feel like to have less stuff to worry about, to secure and protect? What would it be like to not buy anything more than I absolutely need?
In the last several years, I’ve become extremely attached to my views on politics and government policy in my city, state and country. When you are convinced your view is the right one, it’s really hard to let that go and accept that there may be other valid points of view. Further, I largely surround myself with people who see things the same way I do. In a way, I’m preserving my comfort. What would it be like to step out of my “bubble” and really connect with people who see things differently and try to understand their perspective? In losing my comfort, what might I gain?
I don’t really know the answers to the questions I’ve posed, but I’m going to continue to reflect on them and try to find some ways to “lose” more of myself in order to “gain” something more important.
Blessings to all,
Andra Liepa