< <  

Wednesday, August 26, 1998

  > >
Psalm 128

View Readings
Similar Reflections

no sacrifice too great

"We worked day and night, laboring to the point of exhaustion so as not to impose on any of you." —2 Thessalonians 3:8

Paul did not get paid for forming and leading the first Christian communities. Paul also gave up the opportunity of having a wife and family so that he could give undivided attention to the Lord and to serving God's people (1 Cor 7:7; 9:5ff; see also 1 Cor 7:33-35). For love of Jesus, Paul endured labors, imprisonments, beatings, frequent brushes with death, eight scourgings, etc. (2 Cor 11:23ff) Paul joyfully forfeited everything so that Christ would be His Wealth (Phil 3:8). Finally, Paul was martyred in imitation of Jesus crucified. Paul proclaimed: "I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:19-20). Paul could truly say: " 'Life' means Christ" (Phil 1:21). In love, Paul offered his life to God as a "living sacrifice" (see Rm 12:1-2).

Why are you a Christian? To stay out of hell? To go to heaven? Because you were brought up Christian? To do good? There is nothing wrong with these reasons, but the main reason for being a Christian is love. "The love of Christ impels us" (2 Cor 5:14). "He died for all so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him Who for their sakes died and was raised up" (2 Cor 5:15). Live, sacrifice, suffer, rejoice, die, and rise for love of Jesus.

Prayer:  Father, in love I offer my life to You as a living sacrifice (see Rm 12:1).

Promise:  "Happy are you who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways!" —Ps 128:1

Praise:  Phil distributed 500 copies of each issue of One Bread, One Body and maintained a Bible Teaching telephone line. He died suddenly at the age of thirty-seven. After his death, the ministries he loved were expanded within his diocese.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, February 17, 1998


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 25, 1998