Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you. (Lk 6:36-37)
We have a role-model who acts the way he teaches and encourages us to copy Him. When i read Jesus' words, me thinks, this is so easy! So obvious! Again and again and again this is the message ... so why am i not doing it?
Why?
For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you (Lk 6:38).
Jesus promises that what we sow, we shall reap. "Love all, serve all", sing the harbingers of compassion, yet still i fall short. And if these words were totally unbelievable, unrealistic, unattainable, too bizarre for words, nonsense, a child's fantasy ... then why my longing to live this way? How can i recognise goodness in other humans so easily, the warmth of love and the chill of hate? The only goal worth attaining in this life of mine, i know with certainty. I have fallen short, yet God's promise remains valid to me, as it does to anyone who embraces the path Christ walks.
I am no expert on karma (kamma), indeed, my teachers recommended not to dwell on ones karmic standing as this was a waste of valuable time: note ones motivations, be mindful, just do good and know that what is sown shall be reaped. Meditate more, they said. I suppose my priests would say something similar like 'pray more'. Be more aware of ones thoughts, words and acts while nurturing ones relationship with God. Listen. Ignorance is no excuse. Jesus spells it out. The Holy Ghost ensures that when i fall short of doing good, i know it in my shame and regret. I try to make amends. And the next moment i find myself once again falling short. Oh, so simple is a good life, i laugh which sounds more like a groan.
During this Lent some get uncomfortable about the great attention to sin, my Self included. Let's talk about something else, my ego whispers. Enough already, why wallow in sin, isn't the world depressing enough? My fragile Self's evasion tactics work sometimes and it is with great effort that i remain focused on the path. Distractions abound. I am reminded of the advice of St. Ignatius if one hits an impasse: patience, have patience, don't quit, persevere, don't change paths, stick to it, don't get angry, get humble, pray, reflect and accept the Lord's grace (my own summary). So simple, i repeat. If this house of mine is ever going to get a good once over, a spring cleaning, now is the time.
Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you. (Lk 6:36-37)
We have a role-model who acts the way he teaches and encourages us to copy Him. When i read Jesus' words, me thinks, this is so easy! So obvious! Again and again and again this is the message ... so why am i not doing it?
Why?
For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you (Lk 6:38).
Jesus promises that what we sow, we shall reap. "Love all, serve all", sing the harbingers of compassion, yet still i fall short. And if these words were totally unbelievable, unrealistic, unattainable, too bizarre for words, nonsense, a child's fantasy ... then why my longing to live this way? How can i recognise goodness in other humans so easily, the warmth of love and the chill of hate? The only goal worth attaining in this life of mine, i know with certainty. I have fallen short, yet God's promise remains valid to me, as it does to anyone who embraces the path Christ walks.
I am no expert on karma (kamma), indeed, my teachers recommended not to dwell on ones karmic standing as this was a waste of valuable time: note ones motivations, be mindful, just do good and know that what is sown shall be reaped. Meditate more, they said. I suppose my priests would say something similar like 'pray more'. Be more aware of ones thoughts, words and acts while nurturing ones relationship with God. Listen. Ignorance is no excuse. Jesus spells it out. The Holy Ghost ensures that when i fall short of doing good, i know it in my shame and regret. I try to make amends. And the next moment i find myself once again falling short. Oh, so simple is a good life, i laugh which sounds more like a groan.
During this Lent some get uncomfortable about the great attention to sin, my Self included. Let's talk about something else, my ego whispers. Enough already, why wallow in sin, isn't the world depressing enough? My fragile Self's evasion tactics work sometimes and it is with great effort that i remain focused on the path. Distractions abound. I am reminded of the advice of St. Ignatius if one hits an impasse: patience, have patience, don't quit, persevere, don't change paths, stick to it, don't get angry, get humble, pray, reflect and accept the Lord's grace (my own summary). So simple, i repeat. If this house of mine is ever going to get a good once over, a spring cleaning, now is the time.
No comments:
Post a Comment