Matthew 10:34-42: a reflection

34“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. 35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36A man’s foes will be those of his own household. 37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. 38He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me isn’t worthy of me. 39He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. 40“He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. 41He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42Whoever gives one of these little ones just a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.”

Among the demanding words Jesus speaks about the cost of following him comes a striking paradox: He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. To grasp and cling to one's own life, seeking to save it, is to lose it in the end; but to give it up, to lose it for Christ's sake, is the way to truly find it. The way to gain our life is not to clutch it for ourselves, but to lose it for Christ; the one who gives up his life for Christ's sake finds it.

Notice the paradox Jesus states: losing our life for his sake is the way to find it. To seek to save our own life, grasping and clinging to it for ourselves, is, paradoxically, to lose it; while to lose it for Christ's sake, giving it up, surrendering it to him, is the way to truly find it. The instinct to grasp and save our life for ourselves leads to losing it; the surrender of our life to Christ leads to finding it. Life is gained not by clutching it, but by giving it up for Christ; the one who loses his life for his sake finds it.

That paradox is worth taking to heart, for our instinct is to grasp and save our life, when the way to find it is to lose it for Christ. We instinctively cling to our own life, our own way, our own interests, seeking to save and secure them for ourselves; but Jesus says this is the way to lose our life, while losing it for his sake is the way to find it. Do not clutch your life for yourself, seeking to save it, for this is the way to lose it; lose your life for Christ's sake, surrendering it to him, and you will find it. Give up your life to Christ, rather than grasping it for yourself, trusting the paradox that the one who loses his life for Christ's sake finds it, while the one who seeks to save it loses it; the way to truly find your life is to lose it for Christ, surrendering to him what you would otherwise clutch for yourself.

Lord Jesus, among the demanding words you speak about the cost of following you comes a striking paradox: he who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. To grasp and cling to one's own life, seeking to save it, is to lose it in the end; but to give it up, to lose it for your sake, is the way to truly find it. The way to gain my life is not to clutch it for myself, but to lose it for you. Show me the paradox you state: losing my life for your sake is the way to find it. To seek to save my own life, grasping and clinging to it for myself, is, paradoxically, to lose it; while to lose it for your sake, surrendering it to you, is the way to truly find it. The instinct to grasp and save my life leads to losing it; the surrender of my life to you leads to finding it. Take that paradox to my heart, for my instinct is to grasp and save my life, when the way to find it is to lose it for you. I instinctively cling to my own life, my own way, my own interests, seeking to save them for myself; but you say this is the way to lose my life, while losing it for your sake is the way to find it. Keep me from clutching my life for myself, seeking to save it; help me lose my life for your sake, surrendering it to you, Lord, and so find it. Help me give up my life to you, rather than grasping it for myself, trusting the paradox that the one who loses his life for your sake finds it.