THE COST OF THE WHOLE WORLD

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The poem which follows came to mind as I reflected on today’s Gospel text in Luke 9:25 “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?”

You have gained the whole world,
Its silver and its gold,
Its wealth and its health,

Yes, you have gained the whole world,
Its strategic connections,
Its meaningful relationships,

Indeed, you have gained the world,
Traversed its length and width,
Touched every corner and border,

But in doing so,
Have you lost your identity?
Have you lost your spark?
Have you lost your charm?
Have you lost yourself?

In gaining the whole world, have you forgotten:
What it means to be human?
What it means to love?
What it means to be forgiving?
What it means to be compassionate?
What it means to be you?

What has your possession of ‘the whole world’ cost you?

#sly