Friday, January 16, 2004
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Luke 6, 35
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Radical Truth: Generosity
Jesus calls us to a generosity of spirit that is far more than the "You are part of my circle so I will take care of you," or "If I take care of you now, you will take care of me later."
Give, and expect nothing material in return. Give to those who aren't particularly people you want to give to. If the person is what people like to call "undeserving", a person whose lifestyle lends him to being poor, it's not our concern. We are called to take care of him anyway (we might choose to give food and not money, but the idea is to CARE and DO). Take care of your enemies, Jesus says, the people who don't like you or drive you crazy or who are evil to you.
Jesus redefines neighbor with the tale of the good Samaritan. Today, we might call that the parable of the good Enemy. Samaritans hated the Jewish nation of Jesus' day somewhat similarly to the current Palestinian/Israeli feeling. It was the evil Samaritan who took care of the wounded man, and even paid for his care, when the religious folk wouldn't because it would interfere with their schedule.
Jesus' view of generosity isn't doing good the easy way...it's the transforming love in action that makes us indeed ever closer to his image, that teaches us to see God in our fellow man even when they are dirty and scroungy. It's the love that produces a Mother Teresa, a St. Francis. It is the response of love to an overwhelming love that can redeem the world. May we rise to the challenge this day and every day.
_______________
Radical Truth: Generosity
Jesus calls us to a generosity of spirit that is far more than the "You are part of my circle so I will take care of you," or "If I take care of you now, you will take care of me later."
Give, and expect nothing material in return. Give to those who aren't particularly people you want to give to. If the person is what people like to call "undeserving", a person whose lifestyle lends him to being poor, it's not our concern. We are called to take care of him anyway (we might choose to give food and not money, but the idea is to CARE and DO). Take care of your enemies, Jesus says, the people who don't like you or drive you crazy or who are evil to you.
Jesus redefines neighbor with the tale of the good Samaritan. Today, we might call that the parable of the good Enemy. Samaritans hated the Jewish nation of Jesus' day somewhat similarly to the current Palestinian/Israeli feeling. It was the evil Samaritan who took care of the wounded man, and even paid for his care, when the religious folk wouldn't because it would interfere with their schedule.
Jesus' view of generosity isn't doing good the easy way...it's the transforming love in action that makes us indeed ever closer to his image, that teaches us to see God in our fellow man even when they are dirty and scroungy. It's the love that produces a Mother Teresa, a St. Francis. It is the response of love to an overwhelming love that can redeem the world. May we rise to the challenge this day and every day.
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