We struggle mightily for ourselves and our loved ones to avoid death. Thus, when Jesus accepts death at the hands of others, it seems strange to us. When Jesus also teaches us that to save our own life is to lose it, we are even more perplexed. We are urged to accumulate things for our pleasure. A great entertainment and sports industry tries to fill our every moment with fun.
Ceaseless advertising portrays our lives filled with good-time friends.
When life turns tough, we often are alone. We then search our way back to true community. Describe an experience in your life when you desired to be free of family control and do what you wanted. The younger son eventually decided to return home. Many times our own concept of who we are blocks our own healing or alienates us from others.