Daily Retreat 09/18/09
2009 Sep 18 Fri:Ordinary Weekday
1 Tm 6:2c-12/ Ps 48(49):6-7. 8-10. 17-18. 19-20/ Lk 8:1-3
From today’s readings:“Pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith..... Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs....Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God....”
What’s in it for me?
Have you ever had the shocking experience of asking a “fair weather friend” for a favor, only to be met with the blunt assertion of selfishness, “What’s in it for me?”
While we’re rightfully taken aback at the frankness of such remarks, perhaps it’s a question that you and I use (albeit, perhaps, in a more nuanced form) more frequently than we’d like to admit in our private considerations about how to spend our time and money. In fact, in spite of its greedy overtones, maybe it isn’t necessarily an inappropriate criteria to examine, since, surprisingly enough, this question (and the perception of its answer) is what often forms the basis for a person’s attitude toward religion (good, bad, or indifferent).
Let me explain: Jesus promises eternal beatitude (Heaven) to His faithful followers. What’s in it for me? By definition, there is nothing greater that anyone could hope for or strive after! Timothy and all the other saints prove that a burning, overwhelming desire for the greatest good is not base selfishness, its pure selflessness! Logically then, we should “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith!” To lay hold of eternal life, it’s a relatively small thing to be willing to put up with any hardship or sacrifice in this life!
However, for those who dismiss Heaven as “Pie in the Sky”, it’s easy to see that the demands of discipleship are too high for any earthly kickback. Atheists and agnostics therefore scorn religion, because they can’t see anything in it for themselves (unless, of course, they can somehow make a buck from it!).
But there are many who fall in between those two extremes. Many believe in Heaven (or at least desperately want to believe), but it seems so far away, abstract, or uncertain. So their lukewarm religion serves mainly as a catastrophic insurance policy, and while they profess a faith, they hazard their time and energy on various forms of fame and fortune, the “sidebets” that this world has to offer.
Take an honest look at your religion, and don’t be afraid to ask yourself, “What’s in it for me?” but then also ask, “How much of me is in it?”
1 Tm 6:2c-12/ Ps 48(49):6-7. 8-10. 17-18. 19-20/ Lk 8:1-3
From today’s readings:“Pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith..... Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs....Jesus journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God....”
What’s in it for me?
Have you ever had the shocking experience of asking a “fair weather friend” for a favor, only to be met with the blunt assertion of selfishness, “What’s in it for me?”
While we’re rightfully taken aback at the frankness of such remarks, perhaps it’s a question that you and I use (albeit, perhaps, in a more nuanced form) more frequently than we’d like to admit in our private considerations about how to spend our time and money. In fact, in spite of its greedy overtones, maybe it isn’t necessarily an inappropriate criteria to examine, since, surprisingly enough, this question (and the perception of its answer) is what often forms the basis for a person’s attitude toward religion (good, bad, or indifferent).
Let me explain: Jesus promises eternal beatitude (Heaven) to His faithful followers. What’s in it for me? By definition, there is nothing greater that anyone could hope for or strive after! Timothy and all the other saints prove that a burning, overwhelming desire for the greatest good is not base selfishness, its pure selflessness! Logically then, we should “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith!” To lay hold of eternal life, it’s a relatively small thing to be willing to put up with any hardship or sacrifice in this life!
However, for those who dismiss Heaven as “Pie in the Sky”, it’s easy to see that the demands of discipleship are too high for any earthly kickback. Atheists and agnostics therefore scorn religion, because they can’t see anything in it for themselves (unless, of course, they can somehow make a buck from it!).
But there are many who fall in between those two extremes. Many believe in Heaven (or at least desperately want to believe), but it seems so far away, abstract, or uncertain. So their lukewarm religion serves mainly as a catastrophic insurance policy, and while they profess a faith, they hazard their time and energy on various forms of fame and fortune, the “sidebets” that this world has to offer.
Take an honest look at your religion, and don’t be afraid to ask yourself, “What’s in it for me?” but then also ask, “How much of me is in it?”
posted by FrPitstick | 9/17/2009
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