Sunday, June 17, 2007

Having nothing yet possessing all things

June 18, 2007

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

By Beth DeCristofaro

As your fellow workers, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. as having nothing and yet possessing all things. (2 Cor: 1, 10)

“Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” … (Jesus said) “But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” (Lk 7:41, 47)

Piety

Loving God, fill me that I might share with others what you have given to me, just as your son gave himself for me. Brother Jesus, give me the humility that allows me to bend my back and wash the feet of another, just as you did. Wise spirit, instill me with the courage and vision to respond to the world out of the love blowing from your wings. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/061807.shtml

Yesterday’s Gospel was a beautiful example of how self-righteousness (the pharisee)is an obstacle to God’s forgiveness and love while a humble search for forgiveness (the sinning woman) results in outpouring of love and closeness to God. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” (Lk 7:47)

Today, Jesus and Paul spell out even more clearly how we are to live according to His Way rather than by our own – or the world’s - definitions.

Paul’s recounts a catalog of trials and virtues by which he lives for the glory of God. He writes that freely choosing to live according to the righteousness of God brings internal reward and often external persecution. ... We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful … as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things. (2 Cor 8-10)

Jesus teaches to live gently, generously and kindly at all times even when unjustly harassed. Give to the one who asks of you. (Mtt 5:42) What we have and who we are come to us as gifts, in freedom, from God: possessions, national identity, food, forgiveness, humility, faith, charity. Jesus says to freely share them is to live in God.

“Jesus was free because he was rooted in the love of God and therefore, humble. Ultimately, Jesus was free enough to offer his life as a sacrifice for the sake of God’s truth. Humbly rooted in love, Jesus was free to die on a cross. And in that freedom, God’s freedom of love was revealed, the love that brings about a new future…To be free is to be able to live in truth, to live radically and to act justly by living the life of costly discipleship. Freedom in God is what makes Christ alive in our world. We are called to be humble and free in love, like Jesus, that we may help move the world toward unity in love.”[1]

Action

Consider in what way you are the Pharisee: evaluating and critiquing others even when you believe you sincerely love God.

Consider in what way you are the sorrowful woman: humility reaching out. Perhaps you reach for forgiveness of your own sins, perhaps you reach out to someone who needs you.

God gives me my daily bread…with God I possess all things. Can I share God’s things?



[1] The Humility of God: A Franciscan Perspective, Ilia Delio, OSB, St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2005, pp. 63-64.

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