Losing One’s Life (Mt 16:25) by Jenn Garza

09 Aug Losing One’s Life (Mt 16:25) by Jenn Garza

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).  Leaders.  Guest Authors.
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“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” ~ (Mt 16:25) (full readings)
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Jenn’s Reflections:  It has been my great honor to run and pray with the National LIFE Runners Team since my discovery of this organization two years ago.  I will run my final race this weekend and, as I prepare to enter religious life at the end of August, I am looking forward to my future within the monastery walls where I will live a life of prayer and sacrifice for the sake of the Lord.  I am now reflecting on His desire that we all lose our lives for Him.  It is not only those living the consecrated life who Christ calls to radical holiness… it’s everyone. We are all called to lay down our entire lives for the salvation of souls and the Glory of God.  We who pray in the Pro-Life movement are so privileged that we are called to lay down our lives for the protection of the unborn.  But we are also called to lose our lives for each other – and for those who are so blindly convinced that their opposition to our cause is right and just.  We have survived the abortion holocaust, and now we thank God for the gift of life by giving our lives back to Him.  We continue running this race for the salvation of our own eternal souls, and for the souls of each person we encounter.  Losing one’s life for the sake of another is not an easy task.  But if we are called to follow in the footsteps of Christ, then we too are called to great sacrifice, many trials and extraordinary challenges.  Let us rejoice when the road looks bleak – for Christ surely did not skip through a flowery meadow toward the cross.  Is it not most rewarding when a once seemingly immovable heart is converted toward the truth about the sanctity of life?  The more difficulties we endure, the more we can be sure that we are winning this race!  The Lord is calling you to the great dignity of losing your life for the sake of His kingdom.  And after the trials of this life, oh how sweet it will be to enter that Kingdom!  May God give you life in abundance.  I will see you in Heaven.
* Jenn Garza is preparing to enter a Norbertine convent at the end of August. She is training for the Water to Wine Half Marathon in Sonoma, CA and is gathering sponsorships to help pay off her student loans before her entrance. More info at http://www.litanyrun.com/.
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Faith Challenge:  Make a small sacrifice of time this weekend in prayer for someone for whom you have never before prayed.
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed & Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein).
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Faith Quote: “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” ~ James 1:2-3
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Through Christ Our Lord,
(soon to be) Sister Jenn Garza