Today's readings remind us that Jesus suffered for our sins out of love for us. We bear our own sufferings for many reasons: sometimes out of obligation, sometimes to feed ourselves, sometimes for the end results of our works ... the list goes on. The sufferings for which we feel the best, however, are when we suffer to help someone we love. The pain, the sweat, the tears all seem worth it when we see the ultimate results of our tribulations.
The Gospel also tells of the time when James and John ask Jesus to sit at His right and left when He attains His kingdom. Jesus warns them that it doesn't work that way. Instead, those who are thought of as the best must be those who have sacrificed the most in serving others. If done out of love, those sacrifices will bring the greatest rewards, but not rewards in the way the world so often makes us think of them. This isn't about achieving wealth, fame, power, or pride, but being the best we possibly can be to make the world the best it possibly can be as well.
I've also been reminded several times today that it is Alaska Day. One would think that since I am so enamored with the 49th state, this would be a great day of celebration for me. However, I have bad associations with the day that Alaska was purchased by the U.S. from Russia. The first time I ever heard about it was because one of my checks bounced since the bank didn't take my deposit because of Alaska day (and then processed debts before deposits when it opened the next day). It's been over twenty years, and I should get over this at some point, but it won't be today.
On a much happier note, today is my nephew Colby's fifth birthday. The boys insisted that I call so they could wish him a happy birthday. Rowen told Colby that he wanted be at his birthday party, to which Colby replied, "You can still come over." While I'm still quite happy with our decision to move, not being with family during these sorts of events is one of the largest downsides.
The Gospel also tells of the time when James and John ask Jesus to sit at His right and left when He attains His kingdom. Jesus warns them that it doesn't work that way. Instead, those who are thought of as the best must be those who have sacrificed the most in serving others. If done out of love, those sacrifices will bring the greatest rewards, but not rewards in the way the world so often makes us think of them. This isn't about achieving wealth, fame, power, or pride, but being the best we possibly can be to make the world the best it possibly can be as well.
I've also been reminded several times today that it is Alaska Day. One would think that since I am so enamored with the 49th state, this would be a great day of celebration for me. However, I have bad associations with the day that Alaska was purchased by the U.S. from Russia. The first time I ever heard about it was because one of my checks bounced since the bank didn't take my deposit because of Alaska day (and then processed debts before deposits when it opened the next day). It's been over twenty years, and I should get over this at some point, but it won't be today.
On a much happier note, today is my nephew Colby's fifth birthday. The boys insisted that I call so they could wish him a happy birthday. Rowen told Colby that he wanted be at his birthday party, to which Colby replied, "You can still come over." While I'm still quite happy with our decision to move, not being with family during these sorts of events is one of the largest downsides.
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