Jesu Tibi Vivo

Sun.24^th Week Year A

Rm 14, 7-11

“Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” The Poor Clares have a little song they sing which takes its inspiration from this passage from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans.  The song, in Latin with its translation, goes like this:

            Jesu tibi vivo,                         Jesus, I live for You,

            Jesu tibi morior,                     Jesus, I die for You,

            Jesu sive vivo,                        Jesus, whether I live,

            sive morior,                            or whether I die,

            tuus suum.                              I am yours.

Now translating this song into our ordinary lives, it means that whatever happens, whether it seems positive or negative, whether it feels like it gives us more life or takes away our life, whether it is joyful or painful, whether it increases us or diminishes us, none of it really matters in the end because we belong to Jesus.  He is the great positive, the life, the joy, the fullness we desire.  He is ours and we are His.