Gospel: Luke 9: 22-25
Christianity is divided because many of its adherents have adopted the Gospel of self-interest. One version of this Gospel is that of personal salvation and the acquisition of merits. Here, the Christian life is like a Pac-Man game where we gobble up pellets of merit in order to achieve personal salvation for ourselves. The cross is merely a symbol of vicarious sufferings we impose on ourselves to acquire more merit for ourselves. It is entirely a self-directed approach to the Christian life that bears no resemblance at all to the life of Jesus.
Another version of the self-interested Gospel has the appearance of care for others. It preaches a message of organizing people and money for political power to affect change in the world. It asks us to advocate for the self-interest of affected groups but for the purpose of acquiring political power and influence with little mention at all of the common good of all people. It too bears little resemblance to the life of Jesus.
Today's Gospel and the season of Lent are a reminder that the Christian life is an invitation to two things: to repentance in accepting the mercy of God in our lives, and to become an instrument of God's mercy in the world, a life of loving service and care for others that has no concern for self but only in the good for all people.
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