(http://louxfamilyblog.com/2011/10/2629/starving-child-5/)
Showing posts with label Poverty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poverty. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
it's 4 minutes. watch it
How can we see things like this and not want to give it all?
How can we justify our lives when others live like this?
What is Jesus going to say on that day?
Friday, November 18, 2011
a gospel meditation - say what?
One of the things we talked about in bible study recently was the parable of the talents. In this parable, the master gives three men each different amounts of talents, according to each's ability, for safe keeping. When he comes back, the two with the most talents have invested them and gotten back more in returen. The one with the least buried his and has the same amount. The master is happy with the first two men and angry at the third man.
I liken this parable to the quote "We are all called to be saints." Now I think that like many great quotes, this one is used much too often. It is probably used so often because it speaks to many hearts. It reminds gently that in each situation we are going though, we must choose the saintly road.
I think it goes wonderfully with this gospel because it also shows how each of us is given our "talents" according to our abilities. While each of us are called to be a saint, that sainthood is different for every single person out there. Some people may be called to motherhood, to discipling their children to the Lord. Others may be called to move to a different country and give their love to those who have no one. And yet another person may be called to be an amazing boss to a huge company.
Our society has a weird way of judging these accomplishments. We put a golden halo on the one who moves away to a foreign country to live the missionary life, and say that the stay at home mom has it easy. We say the man at the top of that company has accomplished the american dream. But, if all of these people are doing the Lord's will, then are they not all living out the sainthood they have been called to? No matter how big or small the things God calls you to are in the eyes of society, if they are His will, they are huge. What if the missionary is not using his full abilities to serve the Lord, while the mom is. What is she is using every last ounce of energy she has to raise her children up in the Lord. Who is living up to the sainthood God has called them to?
In his parable, Jesus goes on to say that, "Everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
It sounds rather harsh doesn't it? But, after reading it and contemplating it for awhile, I really think that it is fair. God wants for each of us to be a saint. To those who use all the graces the Lord has given them, to live to their full saintly potential, only more graces can be given. Through living out a life dedicated to Christ, one can only become closer to Him. But, for those who have not used the talents God has given them, even if they are smaller than other peoples in the eyes of society, nothing more can be given. After this life, in judgement, what little they has will be taken away.
I think this might be one of my favorite gospels.
I liken this parable to the quote "We are all called to be saints." Now I think that like many great quotes, this one is used much too often. It is probably used so often because it speaks to many hearts. It reminds gently that in each situation we are going though, we must choose the saintly road.
I think it goes wonderfully with this gospel because it also shows how each of us is given our "talents" according to our abilities. While each of us are called to be a saint, that sainthood is different for every single person out there. Some people may be called to motherhood, to discipling their children to the Lord. Others may be called to move to a different country and give their love to those who have no one. And yet another person may be called to be an amazing boss to a huge company.
Our society has a weird way of judging these accomplishments. We put a golden halo on the one who moves away to a foreign country to live the missionary life, and say that the stay at home mom has it easy. We say the man at the top of that company has accomplished the american dream. But, if all of these people are doing the Lord's will, then are they not all living out the sainthood they have been called to? No matter how big or small the things God calls you to are in the eyes of society, if they are His will, they are huge. What if the missionary is not using his full abilities to serve the Lord, while the mom is. What is she is using every last ounce of energy she has to raise her children up in the Lord. Who is living up to the sainthood God has called them to?
In his parable, Jesus goes on to say that, "Everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
It sounds rather harsh doesn't it? But, after reading it and contemplating it for awhile, I really think that it is fair. God wants for each of us to be a saint. To those who use all the graces the Lord has given them, to live to their full saintly potential, only more graces can be given. Through living out a life dedicated to Christ, one can only become closer to Him. But, for those who have not used the talents God has given them, even if they are smaller than other peoples in the eyes of society, nothing more can be given. After this life, in judgement, what little they has will be taken away.
I think this might be one of my favorite gospels.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
may God bless us...
May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.
May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
(Franciscan Benediction)
May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
(Franciscan Benediction)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
He gave them us
All those people suffering out there. All the children without someone to love them. The homeless without anybody to listen to them. The elderly without family. The sick without anybody to care for them. You get the picture.
They are told God loves them, which He does! But how are they going to know that love? I know of God's love from others. From my parents as a baby, teachers growing up, friends, strangers. How are they supposed to know God's love when they are surrounded by such suffering? Us. God gave them us.
We must show them His love if they are ever to know it.
Not just a one time thing. Everyday. Jesus took our sins as his burden. Their burden must be ours as ours is His. Taking up their burden so they may know the love of Jesus. Striving everyday to become more like Jesus, to become smaller. Less me, more Him. He became so small that He literally allowed Himself to be eaten. Can I become that small? To be eaten by others? To take up their burdens so they may know Christ?
They are told God loves them, which He does! But how are they going to know that love? I know of God's love from others. From my parents as a baby, teachers growing up, friends, strangers. How are they supposed to know God's love when they are surrounded by such suffering? Us. God gave them us.
We must show them His love if they are ever to know it.
Not just a one time thing. Everyday. Jesus took our sins as his burden. Their burden must be ours as ours is His. Taking up their burden so they may know the love of Jesus. Striving everyday to become more like Jesus, to become smaller. Less me, more Him. He became so small that He literally allowed Himself to be eaten. Can I become that small? To be eaten by others? To take up their burdens so they may know Christ?
"If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it." - Mother Teresa
the truth
I find the truth so very hard.
It is easy to get caught up in the "necessities" of my life. It is hard to remember how blessed I am.
It is easy to complain about the price of gas and food. It is hard to remember many people don't
have cars.
It is easy to look at my closet and say I have nothing to wear. It is hard to think of those who
actually have nothing.
It is easy to want the bigger and better house, car, phone, or vacation. It is hard to remember
what I actually need.
It is easy to turn off the tv when things I don't want to see come on. It is hard to watch.
It is easy to get worked up about an issue; poverty, homelessness, domestic violence. It is hard to actually do something about it.
It is easy to depend on myself. It is hard to give myself over to God and ask what He wants.
It is so much easier to not know.
But I do know.
What now?
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