This past Sunday's liturgy had a significant theme to it: the need to overcome our dependence on and idealization of material things, and the value of making sacrifices in order to better serve others.
Of course, it is not to say that money and the pursuit of it is entirely bad. Of course, there are certain essentials that we all need, such as food, clothing, and shelter, which we need to earn money to attain. Also, we can all benefit from some fun times out with friends and family, or a movie or sporting event to unwind and relax once in a while. We should certainly appreciate these blessings that we do have!
The danger, however, lies in focusing too much on these material things, to the detriment of that which is more important. When we think too much about what we earn and what we possess, we in turn devalue more important, less quantitative things. Take, for example, someone who works night and day in order to save money for luxurious items, yet misses out on lovely family occasions. We also run the risk of becoming too concerned with others' opinions of our belongings. To be sure, it can be nice to receive compliments on your clothing, car, or TV; however, when gaining the admiration of others for our material possessions becomes an obsession, we lose sight of the truly positive qualities we should hope to be associated with: compassion, humility, kindness, and generosity, to name a few.
Thus far, we have looked at things that we can try to avoid. What positive things, then, are we encouraged to do instead?
As Jesus told the young man and His disciples in the Gospel, we should put away our material goods and be prepared to follow Him. So, let us try to focus on walking down the path that God would want us to, by living in a Christlike way.
Jesus was in every way incredibly generous. He gave freely and willingly, never thinking of Himself but only of the needs of others. He did not see this self-giving as a tiresome, undesirable sacrifice; rather, giving to others was something beautiful, wonderful, and not only desirable, but necessary.
As we have discussed in earlier blogs, making loving sacrifices can seem difficult to us at the time, because it can sometimes involve delayed gratification of own wants or needs. Prayer can be of benefit here. We can ask God to help us be more attuned to the needs of others, to find a more genuine willingness in our hearts to help them, and to be able to cultivate a more humble, selfless attitude. When we can increase our focus on others and decrease our focus on the self, things previously perceived as sacrifices will seem less difficult and more natural and wonderful.
Let us all try to commit ourselves to walking hand in hand with Jesus down the path of life and giving more of ourselves to others. This giving may be monetary, certainly; we can try to give more to the Church and various noble charities, and can donate things like toys, canned goods, and clothing to the less fortunate. We can also be more giving of our time. We can volunteer; there are a multitude of wonderful causes out there that we can be a part of. We can also more freely give our time to our loved ones, particularly when they are experiencing tough times and are in need of a listening ear, a kind smile, and a reassuring hug. Sometimes something as simple as that can make a whole world of difference.
In keeping with this last idea is the song that my choir sang for our second Communion song this past Sunday: Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel. It is a song that embraces the theme of loving self-giving in a beautiful, moving way. Here are the lyrics:
When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl,
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
And here is a link to a video where you can listen to this lovely song:
May the love of Christ give you warmth and light your way, today and always.
Karen
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