Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
The risk is that we focus so much on ourselves that we fail to look out for one another.
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also everyone for those of others.
The risk, even when we're being generous, is that we will act considering only what we can get out of our choices rather than considering how they might also help the interests of others.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
It is reassuring that banquets are permitted. We don't have to be so fastidious in our practice of detachment that we don't celebrate and enjoy life. But Jesus suggests ways in which we can broaden even our celebrations to bring in and build up those who are less fortunate than ourselves. The point is that our love should extend between the systems of mutual self-affirmation that we've built in order that it might reach others who can't pay us back. This only seems difficult when we are primarily rooted in selfishness and vainglory, when we regard ourselves as more important than others. We just need to keep our eyes open. If God has others that he wants us to include he will show them to us if we pay attention. Our part is simply to extend the invitation.
Our feasting is actually much richer when it is not simply a system of balance where we invite others and try to perform the role host well enough for them so that they in turn perform well when they invite us. Seeing others as more important than ourselves changes this dynamic. It brings new freedom to all that we do.
There is in fact encouragement in Christ, solace in love, participation in the Spirit of God, and abundant compassion and mercy. We can experience all of it by being united in heart, thinking one thing. What is the one thing? Look at Jesus. It is love. It takes the form of both love of God and love of neighbor. When we look to love first we become less concerned with our own reward. Unexpectedly, since we aren't even really looking for it, our reward is then the greatest and most lasting.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
To consider others as more important than ourselves isn't about beating ourselves up or being self-detrimental. It is about a focus that finds joy in looking outward and showing love. It leads to a peace that our actual failings and shortcomings can no longer threaten us.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.
No comments:
Post a Comment