Let Us Walk In The Spirit

Let Us Walk In the Spirit
A Reflection based on Galatians 5:25-26; 6:1-10, Wisdom 9:13-18, Luke 14:25-33
by Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius & Bacchus
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry

Brethren, If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. Let us not be made desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. …….. If any man thinks himself to be something, whereas he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let everyone prove himself by his own work, and so he shall have glory in himself only, and not in another. For everyone shall bear his own burden…… Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for by the things a man sows, those also shall he reap. ………. he that sows in the spirit, of the spirit he shall reap life everlasting. ……. Therefore, while we have time, let us work for good toward all men (Galatians 5. 25, 26; 6. 1-10)
How does one live in the Spirit? This passages gives a few clues, and the negative examples stated seem to have overtaken many people in this the twenty First Century. The first statement is “LET US NOT DESIRE VAIN GLORY” yet so many people go out of their way, even to the point of breaking the law, to receive their fifteen minutes of fame.
Others seem to break the second admonition by believing they are much better than their fellow man and putting people down as being inferior to them. They seem to forget that in God’s eyes, we are all equal. God judges us by our actions and the way we live our life. Are we considerate of the needs of others? Do we give of our selves and share our blessings?
The first reading of the Novus Ordo lectionary for 23rd Sunday in ordinary time is from the Book of Wisdom 9:13 – 18 which says; “Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends?
For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight..”
There are far too many clergy and others that seem to believe that they know exactly what God has and had in mind when He created all things and have, by that insubordination placed themselves above God, which I believe is a major sin. They use God to gain fame and in many cases great wealth. Every history and biblical story I have read concerning the life of Christ and the Apostles speaks of their being poor, simple men. They wore the plain clothing of the common person and choose to mingle with the lowest of the low according to the rich and powerful of their time.
Throughout history great and pious men and women, like our seraphic father St. Francis and St. Clare whose feast day we recently celebrated, have come forward to denounce the excesses of the church and have attempted to remind church leaders and the faithful of the teachings of Christ found in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount; "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."; and in the Corporal Works of Mercy which are called seven ways for us to serve God and all the children of God, our neighbors, which is every human being on the planet earth; Feed the hungry, Give drink to the thirsty, Clothe the naked, Shelter the homeless, Visit the sick, Visit those in prison ,and Bury the dead.
God will judge us by how well we have lived these teachings, on whether our deeds have matched these teachings and we have sown the seeds of Love of God, Compassion toward those in need, Understanding and acceptance of the differences created by God, Forgiveness for the wrongs others may have done to us, Mercy for those who have done wrong, Justice and equality for all people, Prevented and spoke out against violence and war and the other atrocities that man commits against God’s children.
In short, God will judge us and reward us according to how well we have followed in the footsteps of God and tried to live our lives in accord to the example Christ gave us and taught us. The reading from Wisdom acknowledges that; . For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? The Gospel for today, from Luke 14:25-33, is quite clear for it says in part “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple…..In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” What Christ is telling us is that we need to put aside our own desires and supposed needs and put God first and foremost in our thoughts, words and deeds. The only way to discover what lies ahead for us in Heaven is to attempt, as well as we mere mortals can, to live our lives in a manner that follows the way Christ, the Apostles and the great saints like St. Francis, St. Benedict, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. Vincent de Paul, and people like Gandhi, Brother Roger of Taize, Martin Luther King and Fr. Mychal Judge OFM lived, all of them put others well before themselves and often suffered as Christ suffered by doing so thereby putting service to God above all other things in their live. They were willing to carry the cross given them as we need to try to carry the crosses we are given in order to achieve an eternal reward that is equal to what we sowed here on earth. Let us go forth from today with the commitment to WALK IN THE SPIRIT and attempt with all our being and with the help of the Holy Spirit to follow Christ in every thing we do. AMEN