"The Only Way to Win is to Lose"

Today we celebrateFather’s Day. There are a lot of things that we’ve learned from our fathers.Fathers teach their children the value of hard work. Christian fathers shareGod’s Word and their faith with their children. And fathers…they also sharetheir competitive spirit and teach their children about winning.

Winning andcompeting are note everything in life – but they are important aspects of life.Maybe it was a board game, or out on the field or the court, we do everythingwe can to win.

Don’t we try towin at everything still today. We compete with our co-worker so that we mightget the raise. We compare ourselves to others. We compete with a brother orsister – we can’t let them win – can’t let them beat us. We try to win in somany aspects of our lives that when Jesus tells us – “The only way to win is tolose” – it doesn’t sit well with us.

Today’s gospel lesson speaks to winning and losingwhen Jesus talks about what it means to bear earthly crosses. “24Forwhoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for mewill save it.”  We knowthat life is no game – but what Jesus tells us is so very important not onlyfor this life, but for the life to come. Let’s consider Jesus’ words under thetheme – “The Only Way To Win Is ToLose!”