Saint Clare, Virgin
Friday of week 18 in Ordinary Time
First reading – Philippians 3:8-14
“For him I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can have Christ and be given a place in him”. This intimate relationship with Jesus Christ comes from the understand the fundamental truth of Christian faith. It’s the encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. Everything becomes rubbish when you meet Him. That is why St. Paul is saying that nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus. If our encounter leads to knowing Jesus Christ that will change everything. This knowledge of Jesus Christ relativizes everything. Everything else is rubbish when we give prime importance to the person of Jesus Christ. We can give prime importance to Jesus Christ when we are able to know Him. To know Him, we must need the attitude of St. Paul. “All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death”. The only desire of St. Paul is to know Christ, the power of his resurrection and to share the sufferings of Jesus. This desire is not just about knowledge but to be part of the sufferings of Jesus. This is the perfection that comes through faith. Be part of the sufferings of Jesus with the faith in the power of His resurrection. Let’s reflect: Is the desire to share the sufferings of Christ, part of my desire to know Jesus Christ?
Friday 11 August
