June 16, 2010
Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha answered, "May I receive a double portion of your spirit." 2 Kings 2:9
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Matthew 6:5-6
Piety
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr
Study
Advertisers and PR flacks have a rough road to travel. They constantly are seeking new ways to tear us apart from our treasure so we buy products that will not last – products that we do not need with money we do not have. They are in a constant battle with the attitude of people in their target markets who think, “So what? Who cares? What’s in it for me?”
Christianity is the same way. Its words in action must cut through the clutter of messages vying for our attention. However, Jesus is not a sugar coating advertiser. He calls it the way it is. Instead of promising us treasures on earth, Jesus is building us up to the realization that we must first seek the Kingdom of God. Then, once we have taken up our cross (DAILY), then we will reap the rewards that the Father will bestow.
Rather than wear our Christianity on our sleeve or like a big silver or gold jeweled cross hanging around our necks, Jesus tells us we must pursue our life in Christ in secret, not in public. There is a time and place for public witness and proclamation. However, we should not undertake such actions for our own recognition but rather so that people will be lead back or turn back to Jesus.
We are tempted to ask the questions, “So what? Who cares? What’s in it for me?” The Lord cares and what’s in it for all of us is eternal life with him.
Action
Have you caught World Cup fever for your favorite country? Are you wearing the colors of your team? Perhaps you are pulling on your Celtic green or Laker purple and gold as the NBA Finals comes to a close. Did losses by your Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers or Washington Capitals pave the way for the first Stanley Cup to land in the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks in 49 years?
We are very familiar with making public expressions of our fandom. Even at Mañanita, we sport our rainbow colored clothes, hats and paraphernalia as a wake up call to the candidates on a Cursillo weekend.
Jesus is not concerned with any such showboating. Rather, Jesus is concerned with the authenticity of our love in action. What are you doing to put your love into action in secret this week not as you would have it, but as He will offer it to you?
