Rev. GEOFFREY KERSLAKE

is a priest of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Ottawa.

It is always sad to see a prominent figure experience a fall from grace. These kinds of events make us ask: what is the most important thing in my life?

If we base our self-worth on external things or accomplishments, we can be tempted to pursue accolades and fame at any cost, with at times tragic consequences.

Jesus asked the crowds that came to see and listen to him this important question: “What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?” (Luke 9.25) For a Christian, we know that our true worth is in God’s unconditional love for us, His creations.

St. Augustine of Hippo remarked: “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”

Society today encourages us to idolize celebrities and sports stars, some of who are only notable for being famous!

The trend to make the pursuit of fame a life goal often leads to tragic ends for celebrities and results in discouragement for fans who follow their idols’ every success and failure with great personal investment in the outcomes. Christians know that to be truly happy in life, we need to “forget” ourselves and our own selfcentred agendas.

Jesus told his disciples the secret of life when he said, “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it” (Mark 8.35).

The Christian learns that if we make honouring God our first priority, serving our neighbour our second priority and pleasing ourselves our last priority, paradoxically, we find faith and true, lasting happiness for ourselves.