Jesus tells us: Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. (Mt 7:12)
To me this gets to the heart of being Christian. The Jesuits of Ireland share their insight on their brilliant site Sacred Space. "It is the Golden Rule, however we tend to follow another Rule: the rule of tit for tat. But as Christians we must instead try to take our cue from Jesus. His goodwill toward us is not conditioned by the way people respond to him. I must try to be like God in this."
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mt 7:8)
The Jesuit homily then tells us that whatever we ask of God, we must leave the outcome in His hands: though we cannot controle the world, we can control how we respond to the world. Trust in God's Love. I examine my expectations and motivations for my petitions to God because my wants and desires may not necessarily be what is best for me! Like children who ask for guns, it may not be in their best interests to give guns to them! We give good gifts to our children. Though God knows what i need before i ask Him, the Jesuits remind me too, that prayer will help me focus on my motivations and surrender my Self of expectations. I put my trust in God and His goodness. Like disappointed children who don't get what they want, my ego might kick and scream, beset me with doubts and fears, but i shall not be given anything God knows i can't handle. Knowing this, prayer, inner stillness and a certain emptiness of expectations, habits and clinging desires can allow me accept God's gifts as the building blocks of maturity, strength and wisdom. And if i accept His gifts, i know i am coming closer to Him, closer to His holiness, mercy and grace. Created in His likeness, here on Earth i can be like His caritas. Humbling, challenging, i can't see any other activity in life worth pursuing, for as i grow, so can i help others grow and vice versa.
Deo gratias.
To me this gets to the heart of being Christian. The Jesuits of Ireland share their insight on their brilliant site Sacred Space. "It is the Golden Rule, however we tend to follow another Rule: the rule of tit for tat. But as Christians we must instead try to take our cue from Jesus. His goodwill toward us is not conditioned by the way people respond to him. I must try to be like God in this."
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mt 7:8)
The Jesuit homily then tells us that whatever we ask of God, we must leave the outcome in His hands: though we cannot controle the world, we can control how we respond to the world. Trust in God's Love. I examine my expectations and motivations for my petitions to God because my wants and desires may not necessarily be what is best for me! Like children who ask for guns, it may not be in their best interests to give guns to them! We give good gifts to our children. Though God knows what i need before i ask Him, the Jesuits remind me too, that prayer will help me focus on my motivations and surrender my Self of expectations. I put my trust in God and His goodness. Like disappointed children who don't get what they want, my ego might kick and scream, beset me with doubts and fears, but i shall not be given anything God knows i can't handle. Knowing this, prayer, inner stillness and a certain emptiness of expectations, habits and clinging desires can allow me accept God's gifts as the building blocks of maturity, strength and wisdom. And if i accept His gifts, i know i am coming closer to Him, closer to His holiness, mercy and grace. Created in His likeness, here on Earth i can be like His caritas. Humbling, challenging, i can't see any other activity in life worth pursuing, for as i grow, so can i help others grow and vice versa.
Deo gratias.
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