"He instructed
them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick-no food, no sack,
no money in their belts." We come into this world with nothing at all.
Perhaps family members and friends have purchased some diapers, blankets and
a few clothes. We allow ourselves to be taken care of. For quite some time
we're not concerned with remembering what we need.
Our mom or dad is
in charge of food, diapers, sun screen, tissues and anything else we might
need. When we go someplace our only responsibility is to get into the car.
We know we are special. Everybody treats us that way. We're content with all
the attention we get.
As we grow a bit
older we start thinking more about "things." We might have a friend who has
a toy or game we'd like to have. We might beg and beg for it. We might
become protective of our things. If someone else would touch them or play
with them they might never be the same. There are certain things we consider
"ours." Even though we might not always remember to bring them in from
outside or bring them home with us they're "our"
possessions.
When we get older
yet we may start to get more and more responsible. We might begin to worry
about how we look and how we appear to others. We might spend a long time in
front of the mirror being sure we are "just right" before anybody else is
allowed to see us. Going somewhere now becomes quite complicated. We might
even need a list in order to remember all the things we perceive we need,
even for a short time away from home.
The more time and
energy we spend accumulating things, the less we have to devote to things
that really matter in life. With good intentions we can set out to provide
the best for our families. We can work so hard and long that we don't have
time to enjoy being with them. We might even see our family torn apart. We
can become so preoccupied with what we have, what we need and what we will
need that we miss how nice life could be right now if we simply focused on
the things that matter, on the things that will last.
"Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with
every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the
foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him." We can
bless God who has blessed us. God has chosen us before the foundation of the
world to be hold and without blemish before him. God has a dream for us.
That dream can be realized only when we stay close to God and seek to do
what God would have us do, when God would have us do it, in the way God
would have it done.
This week we can
consider the things that will last forever. Will it do lots of good for us
to leave a great deal of money to our loved ones if we have sacrificed
spending time with them? Will it be valuable to gain titles and higher
paychecks? Will it be valuable for us to work so hard that we don't have
time for Church, for God, for our husband or wife, for our children? In my
28 years of priesthood I've never heard a dying person express regret that
they hadn't worked enough hours or accumulated enough things. Their focus is
on God, love, family and friends.
God has called us
to wear the world like a loose garment, focusing on the things that matter.
That's how we'll carry on the work of Jesus. Our faith life can lead us to a
healthy life each day as we devote time and energy to God, Church, family
and friends. If we do things God's way we can leave a wonderful legacy for
our children. Have a good week.