ADDICTED TO SELF?
“He who seeks only himself brings himself to ruin, whereas he who brings himself to nought for Me discovers who he is.” –Matthew 10:39
To be disciples of Jesus, we must love Jesus more than we love our fathers, mothers, sons, or daughters (Mt 10:37). To some this seems difficult, but many people feel so upset with their family members that it wouldn’t be hard to love them less.
However, to be disciples of Jesus, we must do something else which is almost unthinkable. We must deny our very selves (Lk 9:23), lose ourselves (Lk 9:24), bring ourselves “to nought” for Jesus (Mt 10:39). We all are naturally addicted to self. It seems impossible for us to stop our chronic narcissism. Yet nothing is impossible with God (Lk 1:37).
Only love can break the spell of self. The Lord proved His love for us by dying on the cross (Rm 5:8). The love of Christ crucified is the only key which can unlock our prisons of selfishness. Fix your eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2) crucified (see 1 Cor 2:2). Totally give yourself to Him. Then say: “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live but Christ in me” (Gal 2:19-20, our transl).
PRAYER: Father, may I love myself (Lk 10:27) and hate my addiction to self.
PROMISE: “Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before My eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged.” –Is 1:16-17
PRAISE: St. Benedict became a hermit when he saw the corruption in the city and found God in the desert.
Daily Word of God (விவிலிய முழக்கம்) – Today’s Reading and Message in Tamil (Audio) :
