14-Dec-2025 | Week 50

The Holy Nativity Fast

Matthew 16:24-26
Offering Your Life
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Commentary
“Of what use to me are the pleasures of the world? What do I have to do with the world’s attractions? I would rather die with Christ than possess all the corners of the world”

~ St Ignatius of Antioch

Reflection
Question 1
What does Christ mean when He says ‘whoever loses his life’? How do we apply that to our lives?