For what would you be willing to die?

by David Lins  |  06/02/2019  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

It’s official: I’ve gone viral. Unfortunately, I don’t mean I’ve created some internet content that is making me boatloads of money because it is so popular. I’m talking about “get me antibiotics, spray me down with Lysol, and wear a face mask” viral. As a result, I’m writing this from my home in a room where I’ve been quarantined for the past three days.

There are positives and negatives to most things in life. Let’s start with the negatives: When I get sick, I don’t go halfway. I will spare you the details, but I’ll just say I look like there should be plastic sheeting on every wall and my dirty dishes should be incinerated. Illness that involves coughing, violent sneezing, and more makes sleep next to impossible. I like sleep. I miss sleep.

This is making me sad, so let’s move to the positives: My family is saving on gas money. I get to wear comfortable clothes all day. Best of all? I can hear my wife and my (almost) toddler daughter interacting all day. From my room, I have heard them both sing, laugh, and learn new letters each day. (To be fair, I’m pretty sure my wife already knows all the letters.)

My heart fills with gratitude as I hear them together and I realize I would jump in front of a truck for my family.

For what would you be willing to die?

There are some Sundays in the Church calendar where there are two sets of readings. This in one such Sunday. The Diocese of Phoenix is celebrating the Ascension this weekend, but there are also readings for the seventh Sunday of Easter. In the first reading you won’t hear this weekend, Stephen becomes the first martyr of the Catholic Church. He died for his faith in Jesus Christ.

I’ll ask again: for what would you be willing to die?

I submit that the answer to this question reveals what – or who – matters most to a person. I’ve known people who gave up their life for drugs. I’ve known people who pursued wealth as if a thousand more square feet would mean they made I, only to need heart medication from the stress. And I’ve known people who gave their lives to Christ.

One closing reminder: Jesus Christ gave his life for his Church.

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org.

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