Practice

25th Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday (25 September 2018)

Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13

Luke 8:19-21

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Mere words without actions, and prayer as mere words and not as concrete life involvement have no say in Christianity. Our religion is not about words, statements and doctrines; it is about a joyful living of God's word. Words and images need to become flesh and blood in this world. Otherwise what's the use of a religion without good actions, and relevant social interventions?

Very often we wonder what good we could do for others. In stead of planning great things, we could start doing our ordinary and small things with love. Very many times we want to do great things for the sake of fame and popularity, to enhance one's own ego and self-image. This is not true altruism. But if we set our minds on the micro and nano attitudes that we exhibit while doing our daily duties, then we have a lot of things to work on. Whenever an occasion arises for anger or irritation, can we show kindness to others? Whenever we want to hit others with our uncharitable words or actions, can we show true compassion towards others? There may many times when people around us do commit mistakes; can we show patience towards them? In short, can we use our negative emotions as raw material for our compassion and goodness? That is our challenge of putting the gospel into practice. This is more difficult than trying to do great things, because most often many of the bigger things that we do have the agenda of "self-promotion." Either deliberate or hidden.

Such a focus is a very good beginning. But not only that. It is more than a beginning, perhaps that is only thing asked of us: to be kind, to be kind and to be kind. Always. In other words, our task is to be present here and now in a most complete manner; to put our heart and soul in whatever we are doing right now right here. The smallest of events can teach us everything, if we learn "Who" is doing them with us, through us and for us. Have no doubt: That is the total goal. God reveals himself fully here and now.

Once we learn that then there is nothing that is not beautiful, there's nothing that's not useful, there's no event that's not holy. Everything becomes holy if we learn to see through God's eyes. Only that we need the broadmindedness, the time and energy to look at and respect (re + spect = again + look = "to look again") all people and all things.

Today let us try to perceive God in whatever is happening to us, and thus put into practice the goodness of God and His Word. For God is. Always and everywhere.