Holy Wisdom Church
“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” the scribe asks Jesus in this morning’s gospel. Jesus asks him a question, indicating the scribe already knew the answer, which is: To love God with one’s whole being above all else, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. This was even written down to be carried on his person in his phylacteries. Among the teachers of the law, who the neighbor was had been discussed and at times been reduced to only other Jews.
Jesus’ message was clear: anyone in need of help was a neighbor to be loved.
St. Paul’s epistle this morning delineated that message clearly. Put on the armor of light. Put on Christ. We know we cannot put off the “works of darkness” without God’s grace. Some prodding can be helpful at times. St. Paul had heard that some of his flock were interpreting part of the prayer Jesus had taught them—forgive us our debts as we forgive others—to mean they did not have to pay others what they owed them. Paul pointed out that being unjust was not the way to love others. Even if death was right around the corner, they needed to be just and pay their debts. That is what Paul was talking about when he said: “Do not owe anyone anything.” There is an old saying: “Love God and do what you will.” If love is the mainspring of our heart, if our whole life is dominated by love for God and others, we will want to do as Gods. The same goes for all the other sins Paul mentioned.
To be dominated by love for God, we must be able to be aware of God’s presence within. This was spoken of quite eloquently at the retreat yesterday morning. We must be converted to the consciousness that makes us one with the universe. We must become aware of the sacred in every single element of life. We must be healers in a harsh society. How do we go about being in the world differently?
What needs to be changed in us? Metanoia- the word spoken by Christ has been translated as repentance but means change the mind, change the heart.
When we were growing up, at the beginning of Lent there was always the question of what to “give up” for the duration. Frequently it was candy, especially chocolate. If you are a chocolate lover, you know what a sacrifice that was or is. When we concentrated only on what we were willing to sacrifice, our understanding seemed to have gone astray. While our minds were focused on the object of our sacrifices, our purpose for the sacrifice was lost. Focusing on the food or time that we gave up, we missed out on the gain. What kind of sacrifice gains anything? Following our church traditions, perhaps a few lost pounds, a sense of having achieved something difficult. Only a sacrifice worth making, one that is made for God, must always focus on the gain, that is, coming to know Christ better.
Be joyful! God loves a cheerful giver.
It requires a special act of grace to accommodate ourselves to every condition of life, to carry an equal temper of mind through every circumstance. On one hand, only in Christ can we face poverty, pain, and sickness contentedly—that is, without losing our comfort in God. On the other hand, only in Christ can we face having plenty and not be filled with pride. In the end we will be judged not by the beliefs we hold but by the way we loved others. By the life we live.
Let us go forward, not as rigid keepers of the law, but with our minds and hearts open to all that comes our way, knowing that God is with us! Glory be to Jesus Christ
