Max hookin' Kunos up
So my son knows how to share, most of the time. Yet, often he chooses not to share. Or, like most of us, he shares what he wants to share, meaning the things, food, or toys he doesn't want. He doesn't give what he likes the most, tastes the best, or gives the most joy.
I was thinking about this because I was asked today to provide a quote about my experience in Nicarafua this past summer. I was trying to think of a three line quote that sums it up. Am I supposed to say' "Wow, it is really great that the center we visited offers alot of secular help, but little for the eternal, but that is ok because missionaries are supposed to be social workers." Or should I comment on the fact that they are preached a skewed gospel of liberation when they are taught anything of God's Word. Or should I comment that the parish that I work for has an obscene amount of wealth , but it is so nice that we throw some bones to those poor people down there in Nicaragua.
We do alot of good in alot of places. I know a woman that does a tremendous amount for the people in Nica by way of her efforts up here, but her own daughter languishes under the weight of a priviledged upbringing, a desire for things that keep the material machine moving, and the idea that she chose to have sex before marriage, was informed enough to make that decision and continues to do it because of her enjoyment. It is sad.
Shouldn't we first know Christ so that the fire in our hearts might warm others? Shouldn't we be reproached for how we live and what we keep for ourselves? But that last thought is communistic, it is radical, doesn't he know that I worked for what I have?
In short, yes it is communal, it does go back to the root (radix in latin is "root"), but even more it goes back to the stump or root of Jesse, who is Jesus. And yes, I know many of us work very hard, but we forget who it all comes from, who it belongs to, and that we are stewards.
So it seems many of us know Christ and have some goods, and are quick to share goods with others, but not Christ in our families. While still others are poor, but are quick to proclaim all Christ has done for them. Who is really rich? Who is poor?
1)Share what I want for myself
2)Give what I want to keep for myself
3)Immerse myself in the mercy I have been given and share it with others, instead of simply giving bread, give hope that lasts.
I was thinking about this because I was asked today to provide a quote about my experience in Nicarafua this past summer. I was trying to think of a three line quote that sums it up. Am I supposed to say' "Wow, it is really great that the center we visited offers alot of secular help, but little for the eternal, but that is ok because missionaries are supposed to be social workers." Or should I comment on the fact that they are preached a skewed gospel of liberation when they are taught anything of God's Word. Or should I comment that the parish that I work for has an obscene amount of wealth , but it is so nice that we throw some bones to those poor people down there in Nicaragua.
We do alot of good in alot of places. I know a woman that does a tremendous amount for the people in Nica by way of her efforts up here, but her own daughter languishes under the weight of a priviledged upbringing, a desire for things that keep the material machine moving, and the idea that she chose to have sex before marriage, was informed enough to make that decision and continues to do it because of her enjoyment. It is sad.
Shouldn't we first know Christ so that the fire in our hearts might warm others? Shouldn't we be reproached for how we live and what we keep for ourselves? But that last thought is communistic, it is radical, doesn't he know that I worked for what I have?
In short, yes it is communal, it does go back to the root (radix in latin is "root"), but even more it goes back to the stump or root of Jesse, who is Jesus. And yes, I know many of us work very hard, but we forget who it all comes from, who it belongs to, and that we are stewards.
So it seems many of us know Christ and have some goods, and are quick to share goods with others, but not Christ in our families. While still others are poor, but are quick to proclaim all Christ has done for them. Who is really rich? Who is poor?
1)Share what I want for myself
2)Give what I want to keep for myself
3)Immerse myself in the mercy I have been given and share it with others, instead of simply giving bread, give hope that lasts.
posted by toJesusthruMary at 12:55 PM
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