Brothers and sisters:
I consider everything as a loss
because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord….
Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind
but straining forward to what lies ahead,
I continue my pursuit towards the goal,
the prize of God’s
upward calling, in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:8, 14
Christians believe that this life is a journey and the life
beyond is the real home. The Paschal mystery simply put is the belief that out
of love for the world, God became human in the incarnation and that the
God-man, Jesus, by his own passing from death to Resurrection, has made it
possible for good people to also follow his path to eternal life.
In the love of Jesus,
Father Lenny Zamborsky
January 9, 2005
For Reflection:
In this reading, St.
Paul expresses what might seem like a very lofty ideal: “I consider everything
as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” How does your personal relationship with
Jesus measure up to that ideal?
I have always loved St. Paul's expession, "straining forward...I keep my eyes fixed on the goal..." and his encouragement, " Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus." I do not regret getting older; I look forward to celebrating 70. My birthday song: "the older, the better...closer to the goal."
ReplyDeleteI like getting older. But in a way I don't feel like I am straining forward now. Getting older has let me live more in the present - less worry about the future, and less concerned about myself and mine. So I can begin to focus on others - all others. That focus, I think, is ultimately the goal. That's heaven. That's the path to eternal life. And aging seems to be helping me get there. Maybe. :)
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DeleteI find strength in both your insights.............as a 51 year old........ :-)
I have had moments lately when I have considered what lies behind and asked myself whether I made the best decisions, whether I might have done things better. This is a good reminder to keep me fixed on what lies ahead, God's calling in Jesus Christ (even though I may not know what that is!)
ReplyDeleteWho knows? Had you done things better - things might have turned out worse. And God's calling is probably now. It already is so there's nothing you need to know - but plenty to experience in what lies ahead.
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