Friday of the
Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Nahum 2:1.3.3:1-3.6-7; Matthew 16:24-28)
There is a powerful scene in A Man for All Seasons where St. Thomas More cites today’s gospel. More
has been accused of treason and is given his day in court. A former assistant, Richard Rich, is called
as a witness of the state to testify against him. Rich is introduced as the solicitor of Wales,
a position he gained by conspiring with the authorities. Rich perjures himself saying that More did
indeed express denial of the king’s supremacy over the Church of England. As Rich leaves the scene, More says to him: “The
Lord asks what profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his life? But you
have done so for Wales, Richard?”
Even though Thomas More evidently did not consider Wales much
of a prize, many people seem willing to forfeit eternal life for less. It is not for us to judge who will be saved
and who will be damned, but certainly people perform actions they know are
seriously wrong. Murder, adultery, and
abortion are three which quickly come to mind, but there are others which would
be in most cases difficult to excuse.
These crimes are perpetrated sometimes for relatively shallow reasons
like momentary pleasure or avoidance of shame.
No life is easy.
All have their share of disappointment and misery. Yet all carry the prospect of happiness. We bear our particular cross, as Jesus admonishes
today, without great complaint so that we might follow him to glory. It is also likely that we will find our forbearance
bringing a measure of happiness among the people with whom we associate.
