Language of God

from Fr. Cantalamessa, OFM
In this Sunday's Gospel we hear Jesus saying: "If anyone would come after me must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for I shall find it. "What does "denying oneself"? Prior to that, why deny yourself? We know that aroused the indignation of the philosopher Nietzsche, this application of the gospel. I begin to answer with an example. During the Nazi persecution of Jews loads many trains from every part of Europe to the extermination camps. They were encouraged to come up with false promises of being taken to places best for their own good, as they were led to their downfall. It happened sometimes that one stop the train someone who knew the truth, called out of hiding to passengers get off, flee, and some could not. The example is a bit 'strong, but expresses something of our situation. The train of life on which we travel is approaching death. On this, at least there's no doubt. Our natural self, being mortal, is destined to end. What gives us the gospel when it exhorts us to deny ourselves, is to get off this train and go to another that leads to life. The train that leads to life is faith in Him who said: "Whoever believes in me, though dead, shall live." Paul had made this "transfer" and describes it thus: "It is no longer live, Christ lives in me ".If we assume the ego of Christ we become immortal because he, risen from the dead, dies no more. Here's what they want to say the words that we heard: "Whosoever will save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it." Then it is clear that denying oneself is not a defeatist and self-defeating, but the bold smarter we can make in life. But we must do immediately for clarification. Jesus does not ask to deny "what we are," but that "we have become." We are the image of God, so we are something "very good", as he said God himself, after having created man and woman. What we need is not to deny what God has done, but what we did, by misusing our freedom. In other words, the evil tendencies, sin, all of which are like overlapping scales back the original.
Years ago, were discovered in the seabed off the Ionian coast, two shapeless masses that they had a vague resemblance to human bodies, covered, as were, in marine deposits. Were brought to the surface and painstakingly cleaned and freed. Today is the famous "Bronze Warriors", the Museum of Reggio Calabria, one of the most admired sculptures of antiquity. These examples help us understand the positive aspect is that the Gospel proposal. We resemble, in spirit, those statues before restoration. The beautiful image of God we should be, was covered with seven layers which are the seven deadly sins. Maybe it's not bad to recall if we had forgotten. They are: pride, avarice, lust, wrath, gluttony, envy and sloth. St. Paul calls this disfigured image of "the earthly image," as opposed to the "heavenly image," which is Christ-likeness. "deny oneself" is thus not a task for death but for life, for beauty and joy.
It is also to learn the language of true love. Imagine, said the great philosopher of the last century, Kierkegaard, a purely human. Two young men they love. However, belong to two different nations and speak two completely different languages. If their love is to survive and grow, you must either learn the language. Otherwise it will not be able to communicate and their love will not last. So, commented, takes place between us and God. We speak the language of the flesh, and him the gift of the spirit; we the selfishness, him that of love. Give Up Self And and learn the language of God in order to be able to communicate with him, but it is also learn the language that allows us to communicate between us.