14th Sunday after Pentecost 2.9.12 Security
We had no say about being born; nor about the creation of the world; nor the redemptive plan of God.
We came in rather late on the scene.
We have been carried thus far without consultation but God does give us finally a choice as He now asks us whether or not we will trust in Him, and commit our lives to Him.
If we are astute we will follow the logic that if He has brought us this far it is not likely that He will abandon us now. (Cf Romans 8,31 With God on our side who can be against us?)
But there is still an air of uncertainty whereby we are not sure what will happen next, and we tend to cling to the certainties we know – such as material possessions, friendships, the lifestyle we know, the things we enjoy doing etc.
At which point Our Lord asks us to go beyond these things; not to rely on them but rather on Him.
It is natural in one way to cling to what we know, finding ourselves in such a strange universe, where so much seems insecure to us.
But we can see that there is a limited satisfaction that can be derived from earthly things.
It is often noted that riches will not guarantee happiness. We could have ten luxury cars and twenty houses and still be lonely and unfulfilled.
Or even if we have lots of friends there is a yearning in the human heart for something beyond. (Thou has made us for Thyself, O Lord... St Augustine)
The ‘something beyond’ is the union with God Himself, the fulfilment of our desires - even if we don't know it or believe it, or even if we would actively reject such an idea.
It is a leap of faith for us to seek something when we are not even quite sure what it is or what it will be like.
We are insecure so we go on clinging. We would rather have a bird in the hand than two in the bush.
So Our Lord comes in and says: you see how I have done all this for you; created a world, created you, saved you, helped you, and now I ask this one teeny thing that you would trust in Me - and you cannot do it. You would rather cling to some small part of the whole universe I have created. Your security is in Me; so seek Me and all else you will have in abundance.
What does it mean to cling to Him?
It does not necessarily mean that we have to sell all we have and walk the streets of the world like the apostles did.
It may mean that for some people, those still young enough to have such possibilities.
But if you are already well established in years and living in a suburb somewhere it is likely that Our Lord just wants you to base your life on His will.
Keeping the ten commandments and then all those little details that go with them - like not complaining, not resenting, being honest, generous, speaking only edifying things etc - a million things like that.
This can all be seen as part of the quest for the last piece of the jigsaw, the last fulfilment of all that has been before – a growing trust and finally full union with God.
Why did God put us here in this strange universe? If we had obeyed Him all along it would not be so strange as it has become. If we return to obedience now we can reclaim the universe for His glory, leaving behind our insecurities and rejoicing in God’s care for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment