No one else is more important than you and you are no more important than anyone else.

   We have a hard time treating others with the dignity that they truly have.  Yes, you were made in the image and likeness of God, and that is simply amazing!  However, God did not stop there.  He created others made in His image and likeness.  They are amazing wonders as well.  None of this takes away from the amazing creation that you are.  This is not a competition.

   Yet, too often we think life is a competition.  After all, didn’t St Paul write “I have competed well; I have finished the race” [2 Timothy 4:7]?  However, St Paul never seemed to compete against others.  Indeed, he encouraged others and could be seen as their coach.  We can see that St Paul competed with himself.  In Romans, St Paul speaks of his battle within himself.  “I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.” [Romans 7:19]

   If we compete with ourselves and trust Jesus to help at every moment, we can say like St Paul, “[I]t is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives within me.” [Galatians 2:20]  It is hard to attain and even harder to maintain, and yet it is the goal.  No more worthy of a goal exists, as no more priceless of a reward exists.

   Jesus, we rely upon You for everything.  Our very being is in Your hands.  We also place in Your hands our hearts that you may receive it and place it within Your Most Sacred Heart.  Amen.