Jer 20:7-9 / Rom 12:1-2 /Mt 16:21-27
Not so long ago, when computers were not half as smart as they are today, a group of experts developed a computer program to translate texts from one language to another. After extensive work, they were sure they had it right, so they typed in the very first text ever to be translated by a computer. It was a familiar text from scripture: “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, the computer printed out the translation which read as follows: “The liquor’s still good, but the meat’s gone bad.”
Life is a struggle, from beginning to end, and few things ever come easy. At the beginning of life we strain hard to stand upright without anybody holding onto us. At the end of life we’re back to the very same task. And in between, the struggles are laid end to end: raising kids, making a marriage, finding our life’s work, taking care of those who need us, becoming faithful friends, finding the money to do what needs to be done.
A lot of struggling is done right out there in plain view. But the real struggle is always inside us: the struggle with fear which is always there whispering in our ear, “Don’t get in too deep; you might lose or get hurt. Save your strength for later.”
At every fork in the road, fear tells us not to invest: in this moment, or in this person, or in whatever is at hand because there’s no guarantee we’ll win, no guarantee that our kids will be good, that our spouse will be faithful, or that our good work will bear fruit. “No guarantee,” says that evil little voice inside, “so, stand pat; sit on your hands. Better safe than sorry.”
Jesus responds to that lying little voice with a warning in Sunday’s Gospel: “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
God has given every one of us some very clear life assignments. They’re spelled out in our gifts and in the circumstances of our lives. Will we accept God’s assignments and do the important work he’s given us? Will we succeed in building our piece of his kingdom? Only if we invest everything we’ve got — for the long term. But by ourselves that’s impossible, because our fears are just too great.
However, we do have an alternative, and that is to look straight into our Lord’s eyes — there on the cross — and ask ourselves if he can be trusted. The answer is so obvious. The cross says it all. So, trust him! Invest your whole heart in every moment. And remember that, in the end, the only absolutely safe and sure investment in all the world is working as his full time partner. You can count on it!
August 31st, 2008 at 8:19 am
I have spoke of these up coming elections McCain vs Obama & Democrat vs Republican with my neighbors. As I said to them I also want to share with you. My vote is not so much in favor of John McCain as it is against Hussein Obama. My vote is based upon morality rather than money, economics or politics. Thus, I would encourage everyone to consider this, just as I shared with my neighbors. Lets say you worked for a known mobster who made his living stealing, robbing, and murdering the innocent with complete abandonment and zeal and completely immune from all forms of legal punishment. Now each week you take your check to the bank and cash it in for money to pay your bills and clothe and feed your family as well as for entertainment purposes and perhaps a little put away ina savings account for a rainy day. Would you feel any guilt knowing that your paycheck and the things it purchases is entirely made possible by the death and destruction of millions of innocent lives every year? Would you feel guilty that you in truth are a participant in this murder of the innocent, this because you freely and willingly hired yourself out to this person for the express purpose of having this job and paycheck?
It is for these reasons that I will vote this election, and I will vote not for McCain but against Obama.
There will be many people who declare themselves Christians or even Catholic Christians that will vote for Obama and many who will not do anything to prevent Obama from this wanton destruction of the innocent. Every person will have to answer to God when they stand before Him and when they are asked, “when I was in the womb of my mother, did you protect me? or when I drew my first breathe did you do anything to defend me from the destroyer? when I was deformed or handicapped in the womb or at birth did you love me enough to defend me? when I became mentally ill, mentally challenged, seriously sick or diseased, feeble, or elderly did you stand up for me and defend and nurture me, did you honor me? etc..
So again, I will not be voting for McCain as much as I will be voting against this Antichrist called Obama.
I know that my every moment is observed by God and that I will be held accountable for everything I have said or done, and for everything that I have not said or done. If my contempt for the current political circumstance is so great that it has clouded my spiritual vision and judgment that I neglect living my basic faith based beliefs and moralities in any aspect of my life including my right to vote against iniquity, then I will certainly not enjoy God’s mercy but fall under His judgment. Thus, I strive to live for God even in the voting polls and election booths.
Those who’s focus is upon the issues of worldiness such as personal prosperity do not see Jesus upon the cross and have not looked into His eyes, for they are too busy focussing upon they’re 401K’s, Roth’s, jobs, retirement, social security, etc., and just like those invited to the Lord’s banquet but have all these personal excuses, will find themselves outside in darkness, for they loved this world and life over God’s kingdom and eternal life, thus they will be cast into utter darkness (Matthew 22:1-14). Some will say, ah, but the Lord’s mercy is great, thus I will take advantage of this during “Divine Mercy Sunday.” But the Lord knows what is done in secret and he knows in advance where each persons heart truly is, and just like Ananias and Sapphira they will be destroyed, for they desired places of honor among the believers but their hearts were far from the Lord (Acts 5:1-11).