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But it is daily tasks, daily acts of love and worship that serve to remind us that the religion is not strictly an intellectual pursuit, and these days it is easy to lose sight of that as, like our society itself, churches are becoming more politicized and polarized. Christian faith is a way of life, not an impregnable fortress made up of ideas; not a philosophy; not a grocery list of
beliefs.
- Kathleen Norris
(Christian faith as "a way of life." . . . "acts of love and worship" . . . today!)
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Rom 4:1-8; Psalm 32:1b-2, 5, 11
Lk 12:1-7
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“You are worth more than a flock of sparrows.” —Luke 12:7
So many of us have safety deposit boxes and even safes in our homes where we place all of our valuables to protect them from theft and fire. However, some valuables cannot be protected in that way. One example is our faith. Because of Abraham’s belief, God put him into the right and proper relationship with Him (Rm 4:6). He pronounced blessings upon him (Rm 4:7-8) and bequeathed to him a legacy of a great land and a
multitude of descendants. Still the most valuable treasure to Abraham was his faith.
Abraham could not work out his salvation — he had to believe God’s Word first, then he was credited with justice (Rm 4:5). Sparrows counted for little among the ancients and yet God knows the price and value of each individual sparrow (Lk 12:6), for everything He created has value in His eyes. Whatever men and women do, God knows what they do and knows the price their activity merits, whether good or bad. True riches can only be
found in God and not in man-made activities or values. God, the Creator of all, holds all in the palm of His hand (Rv 1:18, 20). Our values must be centered upon our believing Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is the King of kings (see Rv 19:16). Jesus Christ is truly God’s Son.
Prayer: Father, let me never forget my worth as a human being and as a Christian in Your eyes. Your strong hand upholds me.
Promise: “Blest are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered over.” —Rm 4:7
Presentation Ministries
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Growing in Inner Freedom: A Guide for Today
- by Philip St. Romain. Liguori Publ., 1986.
11. Mind Your Own Business
“Jesus replied [to Peter’s question about John] ‘how does that concern you? Your business is to follow me.’” (John 21:22).
One of the greatest Christian virtues is a phrase whose initials are M.Y.O.B (Mind your own business!). How much envy, wrangling, and disquietude we could eliminate from the world if only we would practice this virtue.
As Jesus states above, our job is to follow him. Never mind what other people are doing! As a follower of Jesus, we are simply to accept other people and to love them just as they are. How foolish to let our happiness and peace be determined by the behavior of others!
MYOB means that we recognize the fact that each person is ultimately responsible for his or her behavior. Other people—even our children—do not belong to us. We should, therefore, let go of trying to control and manipulate them, even in behalf of their “best interests.”
This does not mean that we avoid trying to influence the behavior of others. As children of God, we have an obligation to let one another know how we need to be loved. We must also speak the truth to one another—even when it is not pleasant.
Manipulators go a step further, however, seeking to limit the options of others to attain their own ends. This is evil, pure and simple—the loss of freedom in both controller and controllee.
So let us do our best to influence the good in ourselves and others and then mind our own business. If, after a rejection, we decide to continue trying to influence others’ behavior along certain lines, we should guard against the demon of manipulation. We will know it by the selfish anxieties it spawns within us.
Suggested Practices
- Complete the sentence: “I would be happier if only (name of person) would (do thus or so). “Does your response indicate a controlling attachment to others?
- When experiencing the temptation to manipulate others, pray, “My job is to follow Jesus.”
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