We must learn to see God in the needy person and respond generously and courteously, but also with heart-felt gratitude.
"If you are so bountiful and polite toward people from whom you receive only a passing empty favor, it is no more than decent for you to be polite and bountiful toward God, who is so bounteous in giving to His poor," said Francis.
Everyday, countless people do us ‘favors’. Some favors are significant but most we barely notice. For example, someone hands you the salt at the dinner table, or opens a door for you. We know that it is appropriate to be at least as generous and kind to them as they have been to us. Generosity means more than a ‘fair exchange’ – a tit for tat – but that you are trying to be kind with an open (limitless feeling in your) heart – and not seeking a blessing in return.
Francis describes these little kindnesses as being not only passing but ‘empty’. He wanted to contrast what people do for us with what God does for us. God is so ‘over the top’ in His generosity and courtesy that man’s kindness and courtesy are nothing in comparison.
Jesus talked to us about our Father's love for us and how conscientious He is. "That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life . . . Look at the birds . . . your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? . . . And why worry about clothing . . . Think of the flowers . . . will He not much more look after you . . . ? So do not worry; . . .Your heavenly Father knows you need them all . . . all these other things will be given you . . ." Matthew 6:25-34
God gives us a body and life. He provides us with food, clothes and shelter. He maintains us in good health (most ailments and injuries we suffer are self-inflicted!) He provides us with our jobs, homes, families, friends, government and Church. Scripture tells us – "He gives us each breath we breathe." Then there are the peace, joy and love that He gives us as we walk in our faith relationship with Him – experiencing His perfect love – and the promise of eternal life. God gives us all of these things (and countless more) so it is clear how great are His 'favors' when compared to other people's.
What men do for us is both passing (impermanent) and empty (shallow and weak). This is why Francis says that it is only ‘decent’ (fair and reasonable) to be polite and generous to God. Being generous to God means wanting to give AT LEAST as much as He gave to us. This is one of the characteristics of love – it is limitless in generosity!
There seems to be something of a disconnect in some of the last phrases of Francis statement above. The thrust of Francis’ statement is in relation to being generous in alms to the poor and yet he doesn’t actually say this. Rather he says we should give to GOD with politeness and generosity. But we already know this and who would knowingly be impolite and stingy toward God?!
But Francis does refer to the ‘poor’ when he says that God is very generous to them. Are these 'poor' the beggars asking for alms that Francis is encouraging us to help? I actually believe that he is talking about US rather than the 'beggars' we see on the streets. Aren’t we 'poor' ones all beggars in that we are all (like other creatures) utterly dependent on Him? He created the earth, sustains it, brings the fruit and grain to maturity and provides thereby for all of us. Isn’t a beggar one who is utterly dependent on others to provide for his basic needs? Then we are all beggars, utterly dependent on the good Lord to continue to be good, to us.
Jesus reveals our debt to God and to mercy in the following story (paraphrased): A just, powerful and wealthy Lord was calling in His debtors, demanding payment of monies loaned. One was brought in that owed, in today's money, over a million dollars. He was unable to pay and so was ordered sold (he and his family!) so that some of the owed monies could be collected. He fell on his face before the lender and begged for time and patience, forgiveness and understanding - with tears and great cries. The Lord was touched and promptly forgave him the whole debt! The debtor left, free to live and free of debt, only to come across a man who owed him (in today's money) $20. He grabbed the man and demanded payment. This man was just as anguished as he had been just minutes before but his response was merciless and he threw the man in prison! This was brought to the attention of the Lord who hauled the original debtor in and asked him how he could dare treat someone else in such a heartless way. The Lord said, "Weren't you obligated to treat that other man, (a brother of yours due to the fact that he is also God's son) with the same mercy that you were treated?!" The debtor had no good explanation knowing he was guilty. The Lord then imposed the penalty that he had initially imposed: sale of the debtors wife, children and himself - into life-time slavery. Matthew 18:23-35. Our debt to God is more than a million dollars and we have no way of paying and so deserve to lose, not just our freedom, but our lives. Yet God forgives us it all! Alleluia! How very generous and courteous He is to us!
But then, once again, what does this have to do with US being 'polite and generous' to actual beggars? In addition, we are still confronted with the problem of how to show our generosity and courtesy to Him who holds the universe on the tip of His finger and who is also so beyond us that we cannot reach Him.
Jesus gives us the answer, “When you did it to the least of these children of mine, you did it to me.” He gives us each other (and especially, ‘beggars) to love and to be courteous and generous to. Francis tells us to show GOD our gratitude and give HIM our love, by giving it to that poor, broken, lonely, person who is asking for help. In addition we should be courteous – gentle, friendly, considerate, loving and kind – as we help the needy. We must, “Do to others as you would have them do to you”.
Remember, it is not the person who you see with your physical eyes, but the good Lord, the maker and sustainer of all things, the One who loves you and seeks to bless you – who you are being polite and generous to. Like Francis, we must come to see that the need of that person who is standing in front of you is an opportunity God is giving YOU to be kind and generous to HIM. Seeing it like this makes it not only easy to give but, a great cause of joy to do so! God wants us all to experience the eternal heavenly joy of giving to Him, in the needy.
No comments:
Post a Comment