"No matter who you are, if you pass judgement, you have no excuse. In judging others, you condemn yourself, since you behave no differently from those you judge.
Romans
Kenneth, a sales manager, first started to see a work psychologist because of marital problems. His attitude from the beginning was that to be a boss meant having an iron fisted control over his staff. The turnover in his department was tremendous, and those employees who remained tended to be the least productive.
Ken had attended various management development seminars, but said he hated that "touchy-feely stuff. He fought making any changes in his domineering style until his wife took their eight year old son and moved out. That same week, he was given a critical performance review at work, and was in danger of losing his job. Facing the loss of both family and job, Kenneth summoned the courage to visit a clinical psychologist to get some help. His wife, sensing a softening in his position, agreed to join him for the therapy sessions.
It was a hard struggle for Ken to face his pain, rage and insecurity that fostered his need for taking such a strong position on control. But with his world slowly falling apart, he came to realize that he needed to make a change. He hoped that by learning better ways of interacting with his family and fellow employees, things could be made better.
As a result, Ken started to go out of his way to encourage each of his employees, and to find ways to help them in their work. He changed his approach from overpowering control to facilitating and encouraging their accomplishments. His image as a boss changed. And his employees grew to not only respect but support him in his initiatives. Ken's approach changed from the old attitude of: "Why the hell didn't you do better?" to "What can I do to help you in your job?"
The clinical psychologist from the US who wrote this true story also noted something else of real interest. He said that the same defences that cause barriers in the relationships between ourselves and others, also keep us disconnected from the sacred. When these barriers are broken through, and the real self emerges, (the self that is non-judgemental, empathetic, compassionate and forgiving) then a new sense of connection and concern for the sacred often surfaces.
The letter written by St. Paul to the Romans also alludes to this reality. The problem with critically passing judgement is that you automatically create a barrier between "self" and the person being condemned. St. Paul says: "No matter who you are, if you pass judgement, you have no excuse. In judging others, you condemn yourself, since you behave no differently from those you judge.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is saying: "Woe to you lawyers, for you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them." This is not a condemnation of lawyers, but anyone who is inclined to past judgement on others and do nothing to help ease their burden.
It is difficult not to judge. We see something in another that we find offensive, or they do something that goes against our rules, or they hurt us, our first impulse is often to past judgement on the person for what they have done. If you feel that way once in a while, don't beat yourself up. Welcome to the club. But we must come to realize, like Kenneth, that there is no value in it. It only makes us ineffective in our subsequent dealing with the situation with our family or employees. And it crowds out the power of grace that has the means to work in our lives to help deal with the situation at hand.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Experiencing God - John the Baptist 96
"John the Baptist answered them: "I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Gospel of Luke
A Jesuit by the name of William Barry wrote a book called "Finding God in All Things". Below is a paragraph from his book that I would like to share.
"The deepest desire of our hearts is God. While we are in the throes of this desire, everything else we might desire takes a back seat, as it were. Everything else becomes relative before the "Absolute Mystery" we desire. That's Mystery with a capital "M". Moreover, insofar as this desire reigns in our hearts, we also desire to live out our lives in harmony with this desire. Hence, we want to live in harmony with God's creative purpose for us, to always choose what will be more in tune with our desire for union with God."
The desire that William Barry speaks about is perhaps most evident and lived out in the person of John the Baptist. I don't think we could find a greater example of what William Barry is speaking about - a man whose deepest desire of his heart was God; a man who let everything else, whether it be health, long life, security, etc. to take a back seat to that deeper desire of fulfilling his mission before God. On the Feast Day of the Birth of John the Baptist, the liturgical readings all speak clearly of this special quality of John. In Isaiah, we hear:
"Listen to me, pay attention remotest people; the Lord called me before I was born, from my mother's womb he pronounced my name."
Anyone who has an awareness of God's call, intuitively senses that this purpose has been planted within, even before one's birth. This is certainly the case for John the Baptist.
In psalm 139 used for this feast day we read:
"For it was you who created my inmost being; knit me together in my mother's womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being. Already you know my soul, my body held no secret from you when I was being fashioned in secret".
John the Baptist, born of Jewish parents and raised in his Jewish faith tradition, would possess this strong sense of being created for a purpose. And his one desire is directed towards fulfilling this purpose. What is it? His father Zachariah saw it and proclaimed it even before John saw the light of day. "You, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way."
So what can we learn from John the Baptist? I've heard it said many times, and I believe it is true, that we live in a time where most of us have lost the awareness that we have all been created for a special purpose or mission by God. We live in a time when fewer and fewer people connect with a vocational call to serve God in a manner that has been pre-determined before out birth. Our focus or awareness is primarily on the life we can build for ourselves during this rather short and fleeting time on earth. For many, maybe most, this seems like all there is, so we say to ourselves; lets make the best of it.
But as William Barry S.J. says: "The deepest desire of our hearts, whether we are aware of it or not, will always be God." We can try to fill that desire with other things, but as much as we try, they will not satisfy us.
By human standards today, John the Baptist lived a very unsuccessful life. He was an itinerate preacher, sure. He momentarily caught some attention. He admitted his own nothingness in relation to the One who was to come. He died while still a very young man in his prime. His success is not to be found in the places where we may ordinarily look for signs of successfulness based on criteria used today. But his success can be found in the words of William Barry, S.J. John the Baptist was a man who lived out his life in harmony with God's creative plan for him, a plan to which he was called by God before he was born. In each of the events of his life, he chose what was more in keeping with his desire to be united with a God who called him for a special purpose.
Gospel of Luke
A Jesuit by the name of William Barry wrote a book called "Finding God in All Things". Below is a paragraph from his book that I would like to share.
"The deepest desire of our hearts is God. While we are in the throes of this desire, everything else we might desire takes a back seat, as it were. Everything else becomes relative before the "Absolute Mystery" we desire. That's Mystery with a capital "M". Moreover, insofar as this desire reigns in our hearts, we also desire to live out our lives in harmony with this desire. Hence, we want to live in harmony with God's creative purpose for us, to always choose what will be more in tune with our desire for union with God."
The desire that William Barry speaks about is perhaps most evident and lived out in the person of John the Baptist. I don't think we could find a greater example of what William Barry is speaking about - a man whose deepest desire of his heart was God; a man who let everything else, whether it be health, long life, security, etc. to take a back seat to that deeper desire of fulfilling his mission before God. On the Feast Day of the Birth of John the Baptist, the liturgical readings all speak clearly of this special quality of John. In Isaiah, we hear:
"Listen to me, pay attention remotest people; the Lord called me before I was born, from my mother's womb he pronounced my name."
Anyone who has an awareness of God's call, intuitively senses that this purpose has been planted within, even before one's birth. This is certainly the case for John the Baptist.
In psalm 139 used for this feast day we read:
"For it was you who created my inmost being; knit me together in my mother's womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being. Already you know my soul, my body held no secret from you when I was being fashioned in secret".
John the Baptist, born of Jewish parents and raised in his Jewish faith tradition, would possess this strong sense of being created for a purpose. And his one desire is directed towards fulfilling this purpose. What is it? His father Zachariah saw it and proclaimed it even before John saw the light of day. "You, my child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way."
So what can we learn from John the Baptist? I've heard it said many times, and I believe it is true, that we live in a time where most of us have lost the awareness that we have all been created for a special purpose or mission by God. We live in a time when fewer and fewer people connect with a vocational call to serve God in a manner that has been pre-determined before out birth. Our focus or awareness is primarily on the life we can build for ourselves during this rather short and fleeting time on earth. For many, maybe most, this seems like all there is, so we say to ourselves; lets make the best of it.
But as William Barry S.J. says: "The deepest desire of our hearts, whether we are aware of it or not, will always be God." We can try to fill that desire with other things, but as much as we try, they will not satisfy us.
By human standards today, John the Baptist lived a very unsuccessful life. He was an itinerate preacher, sure. He momentarily caught some attention. He admitted his own nothingness in relation to the One who was to come. He died while still a very young man in his prime. His success is not to be found in the places where we may ordinarily look for signs of successfulness based on criteria used today. But his success can be found in the words of William Barry, S.J. John the Baptist was a man who lived out his life in harmony with God's creative plan for him, a plan to which he was called by God before he was born. In each of the events of his life, he chose what was more in keeping with his desire to be united with a God who called him for a special purpose.
Experiencing God - Nelson Mandela 95
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant? Gorgeous? Talented?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fears,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant? Gorgeous? Talented?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fears,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech
Experiencing God - Images of God 94
"Then the whole community of Israelites began complaining again. They complained to Moses and Aaron in the desert. They said, “It would have been better if the Lord had just killed us in the land of Egypt. At least there we had plenty to eat. We had all the food we needed. But now you have brought us out here into this desert to make us all die from hunger.”
Exodus
In the world today, we are bombarded with many images. Most of these images are connected with the advertising industry and are designed to sell us something; a new car, a successful life style, popularity, ways to keep us perpetually young. For the most part, we have all bought into these images. The success of our technological industry has been built on the fact that we feel we require the latest and fastest gadgets.
The Gospels are also full of images. Jesus is the expert on using the images to convey a teaching or to make a point. But He does not use images to sell us something. Jesus uses images to show us a different way of looking at things, to draw us to a higher level of awareness. His images give us an understanding of a truth that would otherwise be hidden from us. His images encourages us to ponder, to reflect, and then decide what is best, not only for ourselves, but for those we touch in our day to day journey.
"Imagine, He says, a sower going out to sow his seeds. As he sows, some fell on the edge of the path, others fell in patches of rock, others fell among thorns, but some fell on rich soil."
The first thing that comes to my mind is that the sower is very generous. He does not scatter seeds sparingly. He spreads them wide and without concern as to where they might fall. He wants some to take root, and He'll do whatever He can to make them do so.
Do you see God as a generous sower of seeds in your life? Do you see life in terms of abundance, gifts received to be used, but also to be shared in hopes of bearing fruit in other people's lives? Or is life looked upon only in terms of protecting what I have or what I have earned?
We all at times fall into erroneous thinking. There is a story in the Book of Exodus that is a perfect illustration of an incorrect mindset about matters such as this. After Moses delivered the whole community of Israel out of slavery from Egypt, they ventured into the desert where they began to complain. "Why did we not die in the land of Egypt where we were able to sit down to pans of meat and could eat bread to our heart's content?"
The message of Moses and Aaron was to trust, trust in God's abundance, and their needs would be met. But when we fail to listen, God's abundance gets carried away by the birds, scorched by the hot sun, or chocked out by the worries of this life. But when we listen, some takes root and flourishes and leads to an abundance not previously experienced.
The rich fertile ground of God's presence lives in each of us, and when we create the right circumstances, God's generous sowing grows into an abundant life.
We need the images of God in order that we may keep the other images that we are bombarded with daily in perspective.
Christ, in the giving of Himself to us, symbolically played out in Eucharist freely given, is an image of the abundant life that God wishes to share with us. There is just no limit to the extent that God will go to get our attention, draw us into His care. May we all be blessed by His abundance and given hearts that reflect the fruits of that abundance.
Exodus
In the world today, we are bombarded with many images. Most of these images are connected with the advertising industry and are designed to sell us something; a new car, a successful life style, popularity, ways to keep us perpetually young. For the most part, we have all bought into these images. The success of our technological industry has been built on the fact that we feel we require the latest and fastest gadgets.
The Gospels are also full of images. Jesus is the expert on using the images to convey a teaching or to make a point. But He does not use images to sell us something. Jesus uses images to show us a different way of looking at things, to draw us to a higher level of awareness. His images give us an understanding of a truth that would otherwise be hidden from us. His images encourages us to ponder, to reflect, and then decide what is best, not only for ourselves, but for those we touch in our day to day journey.
"Imagine, He says, a sower going out to sow his seeds. As he sows, some fell on the edge of the path, others fell in patches of rock, others fell among thorns, but some fell on rich soil."
The first thing that comes to my mind is that the sower is very generous. He does not scatter seeds sparingly. He spreads them wide and without concern as to where they might fall. He wants some to take root, and He'll do whatever He can to make them do so.
Do you see God as a generous sower of seeds in your life? Do you see life in terms of abundance, gifts received to be used, but also to be shared in hopes of bearing fruit in other people's lives? Or is life looked upon only in terms of protecting what I have or what I have earned?
We all at times fall into erroneous thinking. There is a story in the Book of Exodus that is a perfect illustration of an incorrect mindset about matters such as this. After Moses delivered the whole community of Israel out of slavery from Egypt, they ventured into the desert where they began to complain. "Why did we not die in the land of Egypt where we were able to sit down to pans of meat and could eat bread to our heart's content?"
The message of Moses and Aaron was to trust, trust in God's abundance, and their needs would be met. But when we fail to listen, God's abundance gets carried away by the birds, scorched by the hot sun, or chocked out by the worries of this life. But when we listen, some takes root and flourishes and leads to an abundance not previously experienced.
The rich fertile ground of God's presence lives in each of us, and when we create the right circumstances, God's generous sowing grows into an abundant life.
We need the images of God in order that we may keep the other images that we are bombarded with daily in perspective.
Christ, in the giving of Himself to us, symbolically played out in Eucharist freely given, is an image of the abundant life that God wishes to share with us. There is just no limit to the extent that God will go to get our attention, draw us into His care. May we all be blessed by His abundance and given hearts that reflect the fruits of that abundance.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Experiencing God - Simplicity of heart 93
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
Gospel of Matthew
As we move through our lives, most of us have experienced milestones where we have suddenly and quite unexpectedly broke through barriers within, and arrived at a deeper understanding and realization of God's love and presence. Others may have come to this realization through a process of steady growth. Regardless of the way it may have happened, both contain the awareness that life will never be the same again. We have discovered a new path that will lead us to a life of joy not previously experienced. It is as if we are being guided along a new path by something that lies in mystery, something that cannot be fully explained.
I find this mystery can best be related to in the Gospel parable from Matthew about the person who has discovered a treasure hidden in the field. This treasure is something so valuable and so personally enriching that the person immediately goes off and sells everything else that they may possess in order to buy the field in which the treasure is hidden.
When we make this discovery, we find that all other things, whether it be personal riches or success, can never quite meet the exhilaration and joy that accompanies this gift.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is speaking of this gift. He doesn't say what it is, but all of us born to faith know immediately to what He is referring.
"I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the cleaver and revealing them to mere children."
By describing the gift in this manner, He is not saying that it is not available to everyone. I believe it is. In fact, I would say that it is more a discovery within ourselves that which is already there, that which we already possess. But there are obstacles to its realization. And these obstacles seem to centre around our self-sufficiency and pride. We have within us this need to control. We have within us a fear of letting go of the superficial in order to attain the gift that brings "new Life".
The child-like simplicity that Jesus speaks about in this Gospel reading really portrays those who are willing to live without pretense, who acknowledge a dependence and trust in the One who is greater, wiser, and more trustworthy than ourselves. Simplicity of heart is wedded with humility because humility inclines the heart towards grace and truth.
In the book of Exodus, as Moses approaches the burning bush, he is asked to take off his shoes, for the place where he was venturing was sacred ground. This action of taking off ones shoes is an action of humility, of stripping away self-sufficiency and pride, as one comes before God. It is a lowering of those barriers within oneself, including the need to control and fear of loss, in order to place ourselves before this consuming mystery.
Jesus says: "Come to me all you who labor and are over burdened, and I will give you rest." Why some accept this invitation and others do not is indeed a mystery. But for those who do, a new relationship, a new way of life is entered into. Along with this new way of life comes the responsibility and joy to give witness of our discovery to others.
Gospel of Matthew
As we move through our lives, most of us have experienced milestones where we have suddenly and quite unexpectedly broke through barriers within, and arrived at a deeper understanding and realization of God's love and presence. Others may have come to this realization through a process of steady growth. Regardless of the way it may have happened, both contain the awareness that life will never be the same again. We have discovered a new path that will lead us to a life of joy not previously experienced. It is as if we are being guided along a new path by something that lies in mystery, something that cannot be fully explained.
I find this mystery can best be related to in the Gospel parable from Matthew about the person who has discovered a treasure hidden in the field. This treasure is something so valuable and so personally enriching that the person immediately goes off and sells everything else that they may possess in order to buy the field in which the treasure is hidden.
When we make this discovery, we find that all other things, whether it be personal riches or success, can never quite meet the exhilaration and joy that accompanies this gift.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is speaking of this gift. He doesn't say what it is, but all of us born to faith know immediately to what He is referring.
"I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the cleaver and revealing them to mere children."
By describing the gift in this manner, He is not saying that it is not available to everyone. I believe it is. In fact, I would say that it is more a discovery within ourselves that which is already there, that which we already possess. But there are obstacles to its realization. And these obstacles seem to centre around our self-sufficiency and pride. We have within us this need to control. We have within us a fear of letting go of the superficial in order to attain the gift that brings "new Life".
The child-like simplicity that Jesus speaks about in this Gospel reading really portrays those who are willing to live without pretense, who acknowledge a dependence and trust in the One who is greater, wiser, and more trustworthy than ourselves. Simplicity of heart is wedded with humility because humility inclines the heart towards grace and truth.
In the book of Exodus, as Moses approaches the burning bush, he is asked to take off his shoes, for the place where he was venturing was sacred ground. This action of taking off ones shoes is an action of humility, of stripping away self-sufficiency and pride, as one comes before God. It is a lowering of those barriers within oneself, including the need to control and fear of loss, in order to place ourselves before this consuming mystery.
Jesus says: "Come to me all you who labor and are over burdened, and I will give you rest." Why some accept this invitation and others do not is indeed a mystery. But for those who do, a new relationship, a new way of life is entered into. Along with this new way of life comes the responsibility and joy to give witness of our discovery to others.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Exlperiencing God - Joseph living by faith 92
Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him
Genesis
For the last twelve years, my wife and I have attended a seven day retreat at a Trappist Monastery in Charleston. We have always been there at the same time of the year, late January early February. During our time there each year, the daily prayer cycle at the monastic community has been the story of Joseph found in the last fifteen chapters of Genesis.
The prayer cycle at this monastic community is broken down into six intervals during the course of each day. Over the seven day period, the story of Joseph is covered in its entirety in this beautiful liturgical setting. As a result, it takes on a significant meaning. Before each prayer interval, you look forward to hearing the continuation of this suspenseful story picked up easily from the previous session.
So you discover in the person of Joseph and his interaction with his ten brothers and father a depth of character that is not so evident in a quick reading of the scripture. Joseph, as you know, experienced many trials and crises during the course of his life. He was the favorite son of Jacob, and received special blessings as a result, but this gave rise to jealousy on the part of his brothers. He was sold into slavery by his brothers as a result of this jealousy. Joseph was falsely accused of making advances on the wife of one of Pharaol's officials. As a result, he was thrown into an Egyptian jail for several years. Yet with each crisis that he experienced, he rose to greater prominence, and all of this can be attributed to one thing: Joseph was a man of deep abiding faith in God, a man who could trust God as working through the events of his life. Joseph was a man who was convicted by the assurance that God had an ultimate plan for his life, even though he was not able to understand it at the time. He lived in trust and hope that God's plan would be fulfilled.
Often times, I've found in the course of my own life, when difficulties come, or when I'm experiencing what I call a crisis of change, I can get caught up in that moment. Everything looks grim and hopeless because I can become consumed by the difficulty that is being experienced. It's perhaps like being caught up in a fifteen second stretch of a two hour movie, and then evaluating all of life's circumstances on this very short time duration.
The way of out the dilemma of what may seem like crushing hopelessness can be found in the story of Joseph. Stand back a bit from the difficulty and take a look at the entire picture. What is it that I have to learn from this difficulty? What opportunity or plan does God have in mind for me as I face this crisis? Maintain a deep and abiding trust in God, a trust that, even though currently unseen, everything will work out for the good, not only for myself but for those I encounter and serve.
After fifteen years, from the time of being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph found himself in a place where he was able to save his family from starvation and be reconciled with them. Faith is the only path that can lead to this moment.
The call of the disciple is not a call to entitlements, positions of importance or an escape from difficulties. It is a call to faith. The Kingdom of God is at hand. We only need to open our eyes to faith to see it.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him
Genesis
For the last twelve years, my wife and I have attended a seven day retreat at a Trappist Monastery in Charleston. We have always been there at the same time of the year, late January early February. During our time there each year, the daily prayer cycle at the monastic community has been the story of Joseph found in the last fifteen chapters of Genesis.
The prayer cycle at this monastic community is broken down into six intervals during the course of each day. Over the seven day period, the story of Joseph is covered in its entirety in this beautiful liturgical setting. As a result, it takes on a significant meaning. Before each prayer interval, you look forward to hearing the continuation of this suspenseful story picked up easily from the previous session.
So you discover in the person of Joseph and his interaction with his ten brothers and father a depth of character that is not so evident in a quick reading of the scripture. Joseph, as you know, experienced many trials and crises during the course of his life. He was the favorite son of Jacob, and received special blessings as a result, but this gave rise to jealousy on the part of his brothers. He was sold into slavery by his brothers as a result of this jealousy. Joseph was falsely accused of making advances on the wife of one of Pharaol's officials. As a result, he was thrown into an Egyptian jail for several years. Yet with each crisis that he experienced, he rose to greater prominence, and all of this can be attributed to one thing: Joseph was a man of deep abiding faith in God, a man who could trust God as working through the events of his life. Joseph was a man who was convicted by the assurance that God had an ultimate plan for his life, even though he was not able to understand it at the time. He lived in trust and hope that God's plan would be fulfilled.
Often times, I've found in the course of my own life, when difficulties come, or when I'm experiencing what I call a crisis of change, I can get caught up in that moment. Everything looks grim and hopeless because I can become consumed by the difficulty that is being experienced. It's perhaps like being caught up in a fifteen second stretch of a two hour movie, and then evaluating all of life's circumstances on this very short time duration.
The way of out the dilemma of what may seem like crushing hopelessness can be found in the story of Joseph. Stand back a bit from the difficulty and take a look at the entire picture. What is it that I have to learn from this difficulty? What opportunity or plan does God have in mind for me as I face this crisis? Maintain a deep and abiding trust in God, a trust that, even though currently unseen, everything will work out for the good, not only for myself but for those I encounter and serve.
After fifteen years, from the time of being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph found himself in a place where he was able to save his family from starvation and be reconciled with them. Faith is the only path that can lead to this moment.
The call of the disciple is not a call to entitlements, positions of importance or an escape from difficulties. It is a call to faith. The Kingdom of God is at hand. We only need to open our eyes to faith to see it.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Experiencing God - Disposition of the Heart 91
"Now as they were going away, the ten were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one turned back praising God at the top of his voice, and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him."
Gospel of Luke
In the above Gospel, Luke gives an account of the cure of the ten lepers, of whom only one thanked Jesus. This Gospel is much more than a story about ten people who were healed of their physical ailment. It's about the disposition of the heart of those who were cured.
Back in my late twenties when I had my own deep encounter with Christ, there were two things that I remember most about the experience. The first was the sense of amazement that such a think would happen to me in the first place. It was quite unexpected, and it therefore struck me with a sense of awe. The second thing I remember and it continues to be with me today is the sense of gratitude to Christ that it would happen at all. It is this immense gratitude that moves us into a new relationship with Christ. It is this immense gratitude that causes a shift in our priorities. Our focus and attention is no longer on ourselves but has shifted to Christ.
If you look at stories of miracles and conversion in the New Testament, you will find that these qualities of amazement and gratitude are the common characteristics. We read that the man who was healed of his physical handicap at the temple gate by Peter and John went away with them walking, jumping and praising God. We read that the man that Jesus healed at the pool of water called Bathsadia immediately rose up, took his mat, rolled it up, and went on his way in amazement, praising God. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were amazed when they finally recognized the person who was travelling with them on the road. In their excitement, they returned all the way back to Jerusalem to tell their companions.
This amazement and gratitude is what makes us effective witnesses to Christ. It reveals our true change of heart. Gratitude or gratefulness expresses a thankful disposition, is related to the receiving of grace, and causes us to respond in acts of thanksgiving.
In the above Gospel account, ten lepers were healed of their physical ailments, but only one returned in amazement and gratitude praising God. To this one, Jesus says: "Go your way, your faith has saved you." What happened to the other nine? We do not know, but this one, a Samaritan, experienced a true conversion of heart.
Recently, I've attended a three day study session put on my our church to explore the building blocks of the New Evangelization. Two of those building blocks have to do with (1) that personal encounter with Christ that will leave us with that sense of amazement and gratitude for Him and His message, and (2) becoming witnesses to that encounter with others. The stress has been and will continue to be, not so much on doing church, but on being church for one another. This requires a change of heart, a new ardour, new methods and expression. The gospel about the healing of the lepers gives expression to the change of heart that is necessary if we are to continue as church.
Ten were healed, but nine walked off, never to be heard from again. Only one returned with a changed heart and a changed life. He gave witness to this change by his personal witness that flowed from the actions of amazement and gratitude of one converted to Christ.
Gospel of Luke
In the above Gospel, Luke gives an account of the cure of the ten lepers, of whom only one thanked Jesus. This Gospel is much more than a story about ten people who were healed of their physical ailment. It's about the disposition of the heart of those who were cured.
Back in my late twenties when I had my own deep encounter with Christ, there were two things that I remember most about the experience. The first was the sense of amazement that such a think would happen to me in the first place. It was quite unexpected, and it therefore struck me with a sense of awe. The second thing I remember and it continues to be with me today is the sense of gratitude to Christ that it would happen at all. It is this immense gratitude that moves us into a new relationship with Christ. It is this immense gratitude that causes a shift in our priorities. Our focus and attention is no longer on ourselves but has shifted to Christ.
If you look at stories of miracles and conversion in the New Testament, you will find that these qualities of amazement and gratitude are the common characteristics. We read that the man who was healed of his physical handicap at the temple gate by Peter and John went away with them walking, jumping and praising God. We read that the man that Jesus healed at the pool of water called Bathsadia immediately rose up, took his mat, rolled it up, and went on his way in amazement, praising God. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were amazed when they finally recognized the person who was travelling with them on the road. In their excitement, they returned all the way back to Jerusalem to tell their companions.
This amazement and gratitude is what makes us effective witnesses to Christ. It reveals our true change of heart. Gratitude or gratefulness expresses a thankful disposition, is related to the receiving of grace, and causes us to respond in acts of thanksgiving.
In the above Gospel account, ten lepers were healed of their physical ailments, but only one returned in amazement and gratitude praising God. To this one, Jesus says: "Go your way, your faith has saved you." What happened to the other nine? We do not know, but this one, a Samaritan, experienced a true conversion of heart.
Recently, I've attended a three day study session put on my our church to explore the building blocks of the New Evangelization. Two of those building blocks have to do with (1) that personal encounter with Christ that will leave us with that sense of amazement and gratitude for Him and His message, and (2) becoming witnesses to that encounter with others. The stress has been and will continue to be, not so much on doing church, but on being church for one another. This requires a change of heart, a new ardour, new methods and expression. The gospel about the healing of the lepers gives expression to the change of heart that is necessary if we are to continue as church.
Ten were healed, but nine walked off, never to be heard from again. Only one returned with a changed heart and a changed life. He gave witness to this change by his personal witness that flowed from the actions of amazement and gratitude of one converted to Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)