18th Week in Ordinary Time (B) : Friday 9th August 2024

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mt 6:25) Jesus’ caution against attaining worldly fame and losing one’s true connection with God is deeply provoking. It is exemplified in the ultimate choice of Edith Stein, a brilliant Jewish student of philosophy who converted to Catholicism. Eventually, she became a Carmelite nun and took up the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, at a time when the Nazis were growing in power in Germany. She was arrested by the Nazis and sent to a death camp. She died together with her sister Rosa on August 9, 1942. Pope John Paul II canonized her on October 11, 1998.

St. Teresa was called to follow in Jesus’ footsteps quite literally. She took up her cross and made the total sacrifice of her life after the pattern of Jesus’ own death. Not many of us will be asked to sacrifice our lives for our faith in the dignity of all human beings but each of us is to bear the unique cross that we have been given.  To dedicate one’s life to truth, love and justice is to live a full life, even if one is called to sacrifice that life as St. Teresa was called to do.

Lord, You restored our life by giving Your life to us, grant us to truly trust that our lives are in Your hand even if our dying is seen by the world as tragic.