Bible
Study: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15. / Matthew 20:20-28.
Serving
God really involves giving up a lot. Yesterday we read how God gave the Ten Commandments
to the people of Israel. Each of these commandments counteract a particular
propensity in us – this means that, if we are to obey any of the Ten
Commandments, we would have to make a sacrifice of something. Unless we are
willing to take the bitter path of having to let go, the commandments would be “mission
impossible” for us.
This is
why we should not be surprised when Jesus in today’s Gospel passage asked James
and John whether or not they would be able to drink of the Chalice. Every time
you feel strongly tempted to commit a sin and you refuse, you are drinking from
this chalice. Every time, you do not get what you think you deserve because of
your decision to do the right thing, you are drinking from this chalice.
Painfully,
much of Christianity today has become a reward-centred phenomenon. It is like for
everything we do, our eyes are fixed solely on what we expect to gain. And our
shepherds (including me) are not helping matters, we hear all sorts of
preaching demanding that we do this, to get that. Sow a seed and you get a
brand new car, fast for forty days and you get a great job, read the bible and
you get a life partner, keep the commandments and you get a nice seat in heaven
etc. etc.
The problem
with being reward-conscious is that on the last day, we would be surprised to
see prostitutes, tax collectors and “sinners” making their way into heaven
because they repented at the last minute while we would have to share the same
lot with them despite our years of struggle. (Cf. Matthew 21:31-32).
This is
why in all the sufferings that we would have to bear for our faith, OUR FOCUS
SHOULD NEVER BE ON THE PRIZE (such as answers to prayers, heaven or some
material reward) but on the love we have for God. We should not be
reward-conscious Christians otherwise our sacrifices would be empty. It is not
for us to admire seats on the left hand side or right hand side of Jesus but
our focus should be on maintaining a close friendship with Jesus.
Jesus
answered right when he said: “As for seats at my right and left, these are not
mine to grant.” There is no need looking down on anybody or trying to lord it
over others because your being a good person right now is not by your power but
by the grace of God. Does this mean that we should run away from the chalice of
suffering? No way! We drink it because it is God’s will for us not because it
contains the passport to heaven.
Being a
reward-centred Christian is a dangerous thing. We are Christians not just because
we want to get to heaven or because we want to enjoy the riches of life, we are
Christians because we have Christ living in us. Permit me to repeat myself, “WE
ARE CHRISTIANS NOT JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET TO HEAVEN OR BECAUSE WE WANT TO
ENJOY THE RICHES OF LIFE, WE ARE CHRISTIANS BECAUSE WE HAVE CHRIST LIVING
INSIDE OF US.”
No better
way could St. Paul have expressed this fact than these words from our first
reading: We are afflicted in every way,
but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body
the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our
body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of
Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2nd
Corinthians 4:7ff).
Let us
pray:
Lord
Jesus, you showed us the need for suffering in the life of your servant, Saint
James. May our remembrance of him today further deepen our resolve to be
authentic Christians rather than reward-centred fellows. Amen.
Good
morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God
bless you.
Passages for
further reading: Genesis
50:20, Romans 5:3-5, 1 Peter 1:6-7.
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