Thought for the Week

I wrote last time about how precious the life of David was to God. David had every reason to trust, obey, and love God. But it would not be fair to propose David was more loved than others. God is capable of doing things we cannot do. He can love without favor. Much as I hate to admit it, my love for people is influenced by the people themselves. If people treat me well, I have no problem loving them. But, if people say and do bad things against me and even if they simply say and do bad things I struggle a lot more to love them. Here, I am tempted to say, “That is probably true for you, too.” That would not be fair. What God expects of me, He expects of me and that has nothing to do with anyone else. God’s commands to me are: “Love one another.” “Love your neighbor as yourself.” “Love your enemies.” “Love without pretense.” “Love as I have loved you.” That seems an impossible goal. But to attempt anything less is a form of disobedience. I need to love the young, the old, the unborn, the foreigner, the handicapped, the mentally challenged. The Church, or at least some segments of it, recently celebrated or observed “Sanctity of Life Sunday.” I don’t get to pick and choose whose life is sacred and whose is not. God created people in His own image and made them after His own likeness. The originally created one was made from the dust of the earth; pretty common stuff. This part of man, his body, comes from the dust to begin with and at the end of life, it returns to dust again. But for a lifetime, it serves as the dwelling place of an immortal soul. And for those who have received Jesus Christ, it also serves as the dwelling place of God (Christ, The Holy Spirit, and God the Father). So, it behooves me to show honor and respect to every person. Two Scriptures come to mind. In God’s call of Moses, (Exodus 4:11-12 NIV), God asks, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I the Lord?” Jesus’ Disciples asked Him who sinned, the blind man or his parents that he was born blind? (See St. John 9:1-3) Jesus responded… this happened so the works of God might be displayed in him. Here we can see God created some people “abnormal” on purpose. So, how am I to treat them? Simple answer, “I am to love them – each one, everyone, without exception.” Perhaps the first contact response is to draw away. But upon return and getting involved I have discovered some of the nicest, sweetest people live in the least favorable bodies. God did this. God is also in the testing business. He tested the Nation of Israel with adversity sometimes and with prosperity sometimes. He may be testing one person with blindness and another person with taking care of a blind person. Another person is tested with a mental handicap and someone else with caring for a handicapped child. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us God has thoughts and plans for each person. They are thoughts and plans to prosper us, not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. When the end of this world comes and the beginning of the wonderful world called Heaven I expect God will have recreated everything perfectly perfect. This is our testing time. It is a life-long test. I hope we both pass with flying colors.

Scriptures to Read

St. John 9: 1-4 & 24-27

Exodus 4:10-17

Psalm 127:1-5

Psalm 128:1-6

Psalm 139:1-12

Psalm 139:13-18

Psalm 139:19-24