Come, Follow Me

May 28, 2007
Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

By Beth De Cristofaro

You who are alive and well shall praise and glorify God in his mercies. How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him! (Sirach 17: 23-24)

“Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” (Mk 10:26-27)

Piety

God, you who are the source of all goodness and who alone can grant the gift of eternal life, give me the goodness, discernment and strength of will to give up my riches and follow you. Let me put nothing before you, Lord God. Let me put nothing before those in the world who have less. Let me help you disperse the riches of the Kingdom through me. I trust and hope in your mercy and love. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/052807.shtml

Last Monday, Paul spoke to the men in Ephesus and asked “by whom were you baptized?” (Acts 19:3) In offering to baptize them in the name of Jesus, he was offering them a chance to further and to deepen their journeys toward God. Today, Sirach and Jesus each outline a spirituality of repentance and obedience both of which are journeys toward God. But then Jesus offers more. Go beyond the basics.

Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. .. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:21, 25) “In the Old Testament wealth and material goods are considered a sign of God's favor. The words of Jesus provoke astonishment among the disciples because of their apparent contradiction of the Old Testament concept. Since wealth, power, and merit generate false security, Jesus rejects them utterly as a claim to enter the kingdom. Achievement of salvation is beyond human capability and depends solely on the goodness of God who offers it as a gift.”

Henri Nouwen speaks of the “poverty of spirit” of Jesus (which) is much more than an economic or social poverty. Jesus is poor because he freely chose powerlessness over power, vulnerability over defensiveness, dependency over self-sufficiency. Poverty of spirit comes from a position of complete surrender to God just as Jesus taught us: “give us this day our daily bread.” Translated, this works out to a mentality of “abundance” rather than “scarcity” (again, Henri Nouwen). Giving of ourselves, giving of our possessions does not impoverish us. God will feed us. Giving feeds others and enriches us in the treasures of heaven.

Cursillo group reunion gives us the opportunity of exploring our riches and giving them up with loving encouragement from our spiritual friends. What holds us back from God? What are we doing in our lives to go beyond the expected, such as following the commandments, attending Mass on Sundays. What are we doing to deepen our dependence on Jesus rather than on other things – sometimes, even things that could be bad for us?? Do we use group reunion to best advantage?

Action

Are we really a “pro life people?” Wouldn’t it be wonderful – awesome – a visible sign of the Kingdom if the United States would become a place where women do not have to choose abortions? Rather, women would choose to raise their children or offer them to loving adoptive homes because THEY HAD REAL OPTIONS. Picketing abortion clinics does not support mothers and fathers; homes for pregnant women only give a start. Our society is so unwelcoming and unsupportive of families. Healthcare for EVERY CHILD would give families options. Affordable housing and childcare would give families options. Livable wages would give families options. What can you do to “give up your riches” and follow Jesus, the brother of children, the ill, the poor? How can you advocate with our leaders for more effective private and institutional support of families? What in your local community supports families?

DeColores

Beth DeCristofaro