Gaining the World, Losing the Soul: Is It Worth It?
February 21, 2025 - Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 8:34-9:1
Imagine trying to pray, but your mind is flooded with business plans, calculations, and future projects. This was the struggle of St. Anthony Mary Claret, a young man on the road to success—until one question changed everything.
In his Autobiography, Claret recalls how his mind was constantly occupied with new business ideas, even during Mass. The more he tried to focus on prayer, the more these thoughts intruded. In his own words: “There seemed to be more machines in my head than saints on the altar” (Autobiography 67).
Then, one day during Mass, the Word of God cut through his restless imagination. Jesus’ piercing question struck him to the core: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). That same question confronts us today. What profit is there if we conquer the world but lose ourselves?
Like Claret, our lives are filled with plans and ambitions. We may be physically present in church, but our minds are often elsewhere—caught up in work, deadlines, social media, or financial concerns. Yet it is in these very moments that Christ’s voice calls us back: “What profit?” “What will a man give for his soul?”
This struggle is not unique to Claret—it is a challenge faced by every generation. Consider one man’s story from 1989. Leaving Poland, he set out to chase the American dream. He envisioned a future of wealth, recognition, and success. But instead of finding what he sought, he encountered something far greater. In an unexpected place—on Long Island, near New York City—he met Christ. That encounter transformed the entire direction of his life, showing him that true success is not measured in riches, but in a life rooted in God.
The world constantly tempts us with its passing glories, urging us to seek more income, more recognition, more followers. But before we chase after these things, we must pause and ask: Am I going in the right direction? The world will fade away, but the soul is eternal. What, then, are we willing to trade for it?
Today, let Christ’s question echo in your heart. What profit is there? Before your next decision, your next ambition, your next pursuit—stop and reflect. Do not let the fascination with the world rob you of what truly lasts.