Attachment: Another such value, along with authority as service, is detachment from wealth and possessions. The Church is able to do a lot of good using its wealth and influence in the society through its parishes, institutions, religious orders, social service organizations etc. The danger here is the possibility of undue attachment creeping into our lives destroying our spiritual life. Practicing true detachment from worldly possessions and even from people whom we love is an essential condition for spiritual life for all the believers (See 'Detachment' in our previous Post). The attitude of Jesus to wealth and possessions is reflected in the instance of a man calling upon him to mediate between him and his brother for dividing the family property. It was seemingly a reasonable request and yet Jesus warned the people against greed rebuking the man for placing him as a judge and arbitrator to decide such issues. "Then he said to the people, 'Beware! Be on your guard against greed of every kind, for even when a man has more than enough , his wealth does not give him life' " (Luke, 12: 15). To substantiate his point Jesus told the parable about the foolish rich man at the end of which we have his stern warning thus: "That is how it is with the man who amasses wealth for himself and remains a pauper in the sight of God" (Luke, 12: 22).
Real Wealth: That a man's wealth does not give him life is self-evident for Jesus. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew, 6:21). For this reason, besides the uncertainty and impermanence of wealth that may be destroyed or stolen by thieves, heaven is the right place to store one's treasure and not the earth (See Matthew, 6: 18-20). Real life flows down from heaven to each one's heart and starts growing from within each one blossoming out into the open to effect changes in the world. Real love, joy, peace, etc., come from within and make a person really human and that is but the beginning of life eternal. The fundamental reason why wealth can be a stumbling-block in our quest for true life is spelt out by Jesus unambiguously. "No servant can be the slave of two masters; for either he will hate the first and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and think nothing of the second. You cannot serve God and Money" (Matthew, 6: 24). Money stands for the world and all its attractions, under the control of Satan, (denoted by the term 'Mammon') that is diametrically opposed to God and His ways. to be immersed in such a world is not compatible with serving God. The right way to deal with the world is to make it our slave by being its master. We become masters of the world, money and all its attractions by being the slaves of God and conquering our own selves. One who conquers the self is the king with a royal priesthood whereby he or she participates in the one priesthood of Christ according to the order of Melchizedek. Detachment, therefore, is absolutely necessary to live in this world unaffected by its various attractions.
Selfless Love: Loving everyone as Jesus loved was the third item mentioned among the new values as against manipulating the people for our own selfish interests. (See our Post on 'The Greatest Commandment' under the Caption 'Living in the Presence of God'). The crucial point here is to understand how Jesus loved us. Jesus loved us by his self-emptytig from the position of being the Son of God to become just like one of us except sin. He humbled himself to the point of being a slave for our sake obeying the Will of God even unto death on the cross as a result of which God raised him to the heights and bestowed on him the name above all names (Philippians, 2: 6-11). This is the reason why Paul exhorts us: "Let your bearings towards one another arise out of your life in Christ Jesus" (Philippians, 2: 5).
Our life in Christ Jesus demands that we have the same mentality as Jesus in loving everyone. The authority Jesus exercised over the disciples emanated from his loving service to them. He was always tolerant and understanding of others' weakness and even sin in order to redeem them through his loving compassion. Although Jesus is the sole judge of the world appointed by God, he never judged anyone and was always forgiving even his enemies and persecutors. Jesus never dreamt of forming groups of people with envy and back-biting, persecuting innocent members not interested in such machinations. Let the Church examine its conscience and see whether it needs renewal in its life and activities.
A Sign of Contradiction: To create in us the attitude of Jesus is absolutely essential in order not to vitiate our relationships. Jesus was open to everyone and yet denounced selfishness and hypocrisy even among religious leaders. He publicly proclaimed that love of God was not compatible with seeking self-glory and honor and that our internal attitude was more important than external observances. Jesus accepted hospitality from the rich and the sinful without shying away from timely corrections needed in their lives. He was compassionate and understanding to the plight of the weak , the marginalized and the sinners and offered his friendship to them. Jesus never thought that any human being deserved to be permanently isolated for whatever reason. He was not bothered about criticisms leveled against him as he knew that they were opinions according to worldly standards. Jesus measured everything with the yardstick of the Kingdom of God and its values and therefore knew that the world could not easily accommodate him. That is why the world hated him and wanted him eliminated from the face of the earth and a true disciple should be ready to follow in the footsteps of the Master The Church has to be, therefore, a sign of contradiction in the world failing which it fails in its own mission! (To be contd).
Real Wealth: That a man's wealth does not give him life is self-evident for Jesus. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew, 6:21). For this reason, besides the uncertainty and impermanence of wealth that may be destroyed or stolen by thieves, heaven is the right place to store one's treasure and not the earth (See Matthew, 6: 18-20). Real life flows down from heaven to each one's heart and starts growing from within each one blossoming out into the open to effect changes in the world. Real love, joy, peace, etc., come from within and make a person really human and that is but the beginning of life eternal. The fundamental reason why wealth can be a stumbling-block in our quest for true life is spelt out by Jesus unambiguously. "No servant can be the slave of two masters; for either he will hate the first and love the second, or he will be devoted to the first and think nothing of the second. You cannot serve God and Money" (Matthew, 6: 24). Money stands for the world and all its attractions, under the control of Satan, (denoted by the term 'Mammon') that is diametrically opposed to God and His ways. to be immersed in such a world is not compatible with serving God. The right way to deal with the world is to make it our slave by being its master. We become masters of the world, money and all its attractions by being the slaves of God and conquering our own selves. One who conquers the self is the king with a royal priesthood whereby he or she participates in the one priesthood of Christ according to the order of Melchizedek. Detachment, therefore, is absolutely necessary to live in this world unaffected by its various attractions.
Selfless Love: Loving everyone as Jesus loved was the third item mentioned among the new values as against manipulating the people for our own selfish interests. (See our Post on 'The Greatest Commandment' under the Caption 'Living in the Presence of God'). The crucial point here is to understand how Jesus loved us. Jesus loved us by his self-emptytig from the position of being the Son of God to become just like one of us except sin. He humbled himself to the point of being a slave for our sake obeying the Will of God even unto death on the cross as a result of which God raised him to the heights and bestowed on him the name above all names (Philippians, 2: 6-11). This is the reason why Paul exhorts us: "Let your bearings towards one another arise out of your life in Christ Jesus" (Philippians, 2: 5).
Our life in Christ Jesus demands that we have the same mentality as Jesus in loving everyone. The authority Jesus exercised over the disciples emanated from his loving service to them. He was always tolerant and understanding of others' weakness and even sin in order to redeem them through his loving compassion. Although Jesus is the sole judge of the world appointed by God, he never judged anyone and was always forgiving even his enemies and persecutors. Jesus never dreamt of forming groups of people with envy and back-biting, persecuting innocent members not interested in such machinations. Let the Church examine its conscience and see whether it needs renewal in its life and activities.
A Sign of Contradiction: To create in us the attitude of Jesus is absolutely essential in order not to vitiate our relationships. Jesus was open to everyone and yet denounced selfishness and hypocrisy even among religious leaders. He publicly proclaimed that love of God was not compatible with seeking self-glory and honor and that our internal attitude was more important than external observances. Jesus accepted hospitality from the rich and the sinful without shying away from timely corrections needed in their lives. He was compassionate and understanding to the plight of the weak , the marginalized and the sinners and offered his friendship to them. Jesus never thought that any human being deserved to be permanently isolated for whatever reason. He was not bothered about criticisms leveled against him as he knew that they were opinions according to worldly standards. Jesus measured everything with the yardstick of the Kingdom of God and its values and therefore knew that the world could not easily accommodate him. That is why the world hated him and wanted him eliminated from the face of the earth and a true disciple should be ready to follow in the footsteps of the Master The Church has to be, therefore, a sign of contradiction in the world failing which it fails in its own mission! (To be contd).
No comments:
Post a Comment