FRIDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - MT 16:24-28 - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

"What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life (Mt 16:26)

READING OF THE DAY

A reading from the Book of Nahum

NA 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7

See, upon the mountains there advances

the bearer of good news,

announcing peace!

Celebrate your feasts, O Judah,

fulfill your vows!

For nevermore shall you be invaded

by the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed.

The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob,

the pride of Israel,

Though ravagers have ravaged them

and ruined the tendrils.Woe to the bloody city, all lies,

full of plunder, whose looting never stops!

The crack of the whip, the rumbling sounds of wheels;

horses a-gallop, chariots bounding,

Cavalry charging, the flame of the sword, the flash of the spear,

the many slain, the heaping corpses,

the endless bodies to stumble upon!

I will cast filth upon you,

disgrace you and put you to shame;

Till everyone who sees you runs from you, saying,

“Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity her?

Where can one find any to console her?”

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew

MT 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples,

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world

and forfeit his life?

Or what can one give in exchange for his life?

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,

and then he will repay each according to his conduct.

Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here

who will not taste death

until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

FRIDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - MT 16:24-28

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In the Word of God in today's Gospel, God guides people to know the decisive conditions to follow God. These conditions are: to deny oneself, carry one's cross and risk one's life for God.

God is omnipotent. He can do anything. He created humans so that humans could live happily and be filled with His grace. All those who want to follow God must resolutely live according to His instructions. Because His instructions always bring good things to people. God is a merciful Father. He never wants bad things or injustices to happen to His beloved children.

Today's Word of God is a wise teaching that God wants to remind everyone of: "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?"

God wants to warn people living in today's modern world: to seek the Kingdom of Heaven, seek eternal life in the future. Do not worry about your life but worry about your soul entering the Kingdom of Heaven. Trust and rely on the power of the God of love. He will give eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven to all those who dare to give up everything to follow Him.

Thanks be to God. Amen.