Expectations. We all suffer from them. Jesus tells us in so many words that we would be better off without expectations: just do one's best to love God and neighbour and leave the rewards to the Lord. A slap in the face to those who think their righteousness shall pay off. A kick in the shins to those who fully expect rewards based on their own perfect behaviour. We think we're doing well and then someone else points out our faults? So much heavy emotion that leads us to censorship, anger and violence, bold acts of human weakness, pettiness and misunderstanding, we expect so much of ourselves.
Though we expect to come in first, we might be last. Though we expect to come in last, we might very well be last. Or not. An expectation is like a free ticket. What do we do with a free ticket? Pride and self-righteousness. Laziness and carelessness. I think Jesus' message is 'be aware'. Be aware of pride, of one's each thought, word and deed and its affect on others, of God's laws, of one's own motivations. There is so much to be aware of that we can be blinded by expectations. And having worked hard (and you know when you've done it), you might even be surprised by the rewards.
Oremus:
I'd like to pray for those elderly who live in isolation. Among us, many are not seen, not greeted, not acknowledged as they eek out a living on meager pensions and savings. They find little support from governments who have other more important agendas than to give comfort the elderly: we, the voters, have put these politicians in power, so we too, must feel some responsibility to cutbacks on senior social services. Alone, they suffer. Alone, we would all suffer, but our ego cannot place us in their shoes because we imagine that such a life of hopelessness, waiting to die, burdened by health problems, this could never happen to us. Isolation kills. Humanity needs each other. I pray that i can at least forget myself and reach out more to those elderly around me, to say 'hello' and smile and offer a helping hand if need be. Amen.
Deo gratias.
Though we expect to come in first, we might be last. Though we expect to come in last, we might very well be last. Or not. An expectation is like a free ticket. What do we do with a free ticket? Pride and self-righteousness. Laziness and carelessness. I think Jesus' message is 'be aware'. Be aware of pride, of one's each thought, word and deed and its affect on others, of God's laws, of one's own motivations. There is so much to be aware of that we can be blinded by expectations. And having worked hard (and you know when you've done it), you might even be surprised by the rewards.
Oremus:
I'd like to pray for those elderly who live in isolation. Among us, many are not seen, not greeted, not acknowledged as they eek out a living on meager pensions and savings. They find little support from governments who have other more important agendas than to give comfort the elderly: we, the voters, have put these politicians in power, so we too, must feel some responsibility to cutbacks on senior social services. Alone, they suffer. Alone, we would all suffer, but our ego cannot place us in their shoes because we imagine that such a life of hopelessness, waiting to die, burdened by health problems, this could never happen to us. Isolation kills. Humanity needs each other. I pray that i can at least forget myself and reach out more to those elderly around me, to say 'hello' and smile and offer a helping hand if need be. Amen.
Deo gratias.
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