When the kingdom comes into, among us, we are ‘walking with God

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings, for Thursday After Ash Wednesday, by Father Perry.

+ OK! Your choices are life and prosperity.

Or death and doom!

What do you choose?

One would think that there really is no choice. It is simply obvious what you gotta do.

There is talk of obeying and keeping commandments, loving him, not turning away or being led astray and.

But to this reader, the best description given for this choice is: “walking in his ways.”

And talking in that language of paradoxes or seeming opposites, Jesus says that “saving one’s life is actually losing that life”; but “losing one’s life is actually saving one’s life.”

The image pops up in the mind: Have you ever walked with an older or very wise person whose words and teaching meant everything to you?

Often, that person would smile or gently say something, or make a comparison that almost sounded sweet.

One could hang onto their words, and you might even find yourself walking hand in hand. It is almost like being one with that person.

This is the image God gives: “Walk with me! Walk in my ways! Walk hand in hand. I will not let go!”

+ But Jesus describes that walk, also — the walk with the Christ.

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Clearly, walking with the Christ has a price attached to it.

And talking in that language of paradoxes or seeming opposites, Jesus says that “saving one’s life is actually losing that life”; but “losing one’s life is actually saving one’s life.”

And then Jesus nails it when he remarks that “one could gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit themself.”

+ No doubt, this must have something to do with recognizing that “the kingdom of God is at hand.”

That “kingdom stuff” is the stuff of the Spirit and goes way down deep; when we touch it, or it touches us, we are never the same.

One could say that when the kingdom comes into and among us, we promptly discover that we are “walking with God — hand in hand.”

And as God describes himself in that hand-to-hand walk: “I will never let go!”

Now that is a journey worth walking!

That is a Lenten journey, indeed!

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.

When the kingdom comes into, among us, we are ‘walking with God — hand in hand’

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings, for Thursday After Ash Wednesday, by Father Perry.

+ OK! Your choices are life and prosperity.

Or death and doom!

What do you choose?

One would think that there really is no choice. It is simply obvious what you gotta do.

There is talk of obeying and keeping commandments, loving him, not turning away or being led astray and.

But to this reader, the best description given for this choice is: “walking in his ways.”

And talking in that language of paradoxes or seeming opposites, Jesus says that “saving one’s life is actually losing that life”; but “losing one’s life is actually saving one’s life.”

The image pops up in the mind: Have you ever walked with an older or very wise person whose words and teaching meant everything to you?

Often, that person would smile or gently say something, or make a comparison that almost sounded sweet.

One could hang onto their words, and you might even find yourself walking hand in hand. It is almost like being one with that person.

This is the image God gives: “Walk with me! Walk in my ways! Walk hand in hand. I will not let go!”

+ But Jesus describes that walk, also — the walk with the Christ.

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Clearly, walking with the Christ has a price attached to it.

And talking in that language of paradoxes or seeming opposites, Jesus says that “saving one’s life is actually losing that life”; but “losing one’s life is actually saving one’s life.”

And then Jesus nails it when he remarks that “one could gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit themself.”

+ No doubt, this must have something to do with recognizing that “the kingdom of God is at hand.”

That “kingdom stuff” is the stuff of the Spirit and goes way down deep; when we touch it, or it touches us, we are never the same.

One could say that when the kingdom comes into and among us, we promptly discover that we are “walking with God — hand in hand.”

And as God describes himself in that hand-to-hand walk: “I will never let go!”

Now that is a journey worth walking!

That is a Lenten journey, indeed!

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.

When the kingdom comes into, among us, we are ‘walking with God — hand in hand’