Day 079: Humility

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."  Philippians 2:5-7

As Christians, we are called to follow Christ.

Obviously, one of the best ways to follow Christ is to imitate him.  We do that by observing what is written above, which was read in Palm Sunday Mass today.  We need to imitate Christ's humility in our livelihoods.  It's one thing to flaunt your absolute power around so that everybody can see it.  Nobody likes when a person shows off like that.  But, at the same time, we all know that if we were given such power we would be guilty of flaunting it before everybody.

Jesus came into this world in order to change all of us, so that we can all come closer to God than we ever would have been able to in the past.  However, Jesus didn't come to the world to change things that would conform to our own needs.  We obviously do just fine without that sort of change, hurting all of those around us and exalting our own selves above everybody else.  In fact, Jesus came to change everything, especially our thinking.  Jesus came to show us how to live a life of helping others out.  Jesus served us so that we might have an example of how to live our lives.

We read the Passion in Mass today, and that shows us how much Jesus loves us.  He went through all sorts of suffering so that we would be free from it.  He went through Hell so that we could go to Heaven.  Jesus shows us that the important thing is to remember to focus all your might to love.  Love God.  Love your neighbors.  Love yourself.

During Holy Week, allow for the gospel of love and humility to take hold of your life.  Let Jesus grow in you.  Let this week be the first step to greater spiritual growth.

Day 044: Outreach

"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"  Matthew 25:40

This parable reminds me of one of my favorite church songs, "Pequeñas Aclaraciones," which has the refrain, "Va Dios mismo en nuestro mismo caminar." (God himself walks alongside us)

I feel that Lent is a season where we can really explore this idea of God, because God is always around us, whether we're aware of it or not.  Lent is a time for us to reach out our hands to the many different outstretched hands that God shows us along our way.

Jesus teaches us, in this parable, that we cannot just believe with our lips.  We can't just call ourselves Christians without living a life in Christ.  In the same way, we can't say we're students if we're not studying in school.  If we don't do the assignments and tests and requirements for school, we won't get the degree.  If we don't work diligently in our jobs, we won't get our paycheck, let alone keep the job.  So why does being a Christian have to be any different?

All throughout the Bible, we can see examples of people who didn't seem like they were right for the job, but who worked very hard to accomplish what God needed to have happen.  Moses had trouble speaking in public, but strove to make it work and sought the right kind of help.  Jeremiah was afraid to prophesy because he was young, but he continued to work.  Paul persecuted the early Christians, but he had a change of heart and continued to work out a new theology out of his own understanding.

To follow Christ means to work for him.  We can't just sit around, posting about how holy our lives are on Facebook or proclaiming to all our friends that we are righteous beings.  We need to be out there, helping out the less fortunate, loving those who are outcast, spreading the Gospel to all those who may never have heard it before.  We need to go around the mansion that was built for us by the long line of saints before us and make sure that everything is tidy.

Day 038: Humility

"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:11-12

These verses come after an explanation from Jesus about the order of things, but their order is a little difficult for us to understand, since they go against what we think about higher positions.

I think it is safe to say that some of the most powerful people in this country and in the world are the ones with the most money.  Praise be to God that we actually have some of these rich people who are philanthropists, who give so much of their wealth to those who are in dire situations.  But, at the same time, there are many of the wealthy who like to make sure that we all know that they are well off.  Even worse, still, is that we have many in our churches who hoard wealth and do the bare minimum for the less fortunate.

But Jesus shows us a different way of doing this, both in his words and in his actions.  He has shown that he, the greatest being ever to have walked on this earth, took the time to heal the sick, tend to the poor, and speak to the outcast.  Jesus has given us an example that we need to follow.  Alongside that, Jesus shows that it is not for our personal worth that we do these things, for if that's what we have in our heart - our pride, our position in the food chain - then we will be humiliated.

To follow this teaching means that we need to work.  We need to give not only our treasure, but our time and our talent as well.  It's one thing to write a small check and call it done.  We need to go out there, to volunteer, to teach, to evangelize, to help.  As Presiding Bishop Curry said, we are not called to stay in our place, but we are called to follow Jesus wherever he leads us.  And, as we approach Lent, it is time to prepare ourselves for the journey that leads us through the Passion of Jesus.  Let today be that preparation.

Day 034: Following

"So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes.  And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him."  Matthew 20:34

Here's an example of where the blind were being led by one who is able to see.  However, after they are led, they also lead us, for they now see, and we, sometimes, are blind.

These two men called out to Jesus to have mercy, and Jesus had mercy.  But, the story doesn't end just there.  The men follow Jesus.  Jesus is working in our lives in so many different ways, but are we ready to follow him?

Probably something that we do is pray only whenever times seem to be very tough.  Sure, we do need God's grace to get us through difficult exams, tests, or events in our lives.  But, we are also supposed to praise God in our prayers and in our lives.  We need to give God credit.

Just think about the times that you've been at a restaurant.  The waiter is doing just what he needs to do, coming by to serve you, taking your order, giving you your food and drink.  Then, at the end, you find that the waiter wasn't anything super spectacular, but you still give him a 15% tip, since it is customary (if not impulsive because of their low wages).

Now think about God.  God has given you the job so that you can have money to spend at a restaurant.  God has given you the time to spend in that place.  God has even provided you with an environment where you can go anywhere with quite a degree of safety.  What does God get in return?

I know that I can't say that I give God everything.  I don't even think that I have enough to give God in return for all that God has done in my life.  Yet, I know that I need to follow.  Sure, God doesn't work as a worker for us, living on the wages that we give, but imagine this: if God can do so much for us when we are wandering away from God, how much more can God do when we are actively seeking God in all of our aspects of our lives?

God is the one who is walking by the streets, listening for our calls.  But, when God fulfills what we need, God continues to walk down the way to hear more of the cries.  Are we going to follow God along the way?  Are we going to serve God with our devotion to bringing God's kingdom on earth?

Service

"If any want to be my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
Jesus is very clear.  It will be hard work. There will be times that you are going in the opposite direction as everybody else.  There will be times that a crowd and a parade will be headed in a different direction than you who follow Jesus.  But there will be times of grace, love, joy, and happiness, for God is the source of all these things.