Imagine
for a moment, that someone were to come to you and tell you:
“Ask
something of me, and I'll give it to you” (I Kings 3) – Anything;
just ask and its yours.
What
would you ask for?
Typically the answer to that depends on where we have placed our allegiance, so to speak. It could be God; it could be money; it could be health or power or relationships – you name it.
We're
a people with many choices before us.
Whatever
we choose, though, we know in some way, it will reflect our
desire for what it good, beautiful, and true.
A
20th Century theologian, Henri de Lubac,
discussed this when he proposed that man is made up of three parts –
body, soul, and spirit. (“The Radiance of Being” by
Stratford Caldecott, pg 206 and following). Each
of these facets of the human person drives us to search for things
that are helpful to us.
For
the body, we are drawn toward things that are good for
our physical welfare. Such
things include food, clothing, physical pleasure .
For
the soul,
we are drawn to things that are beautiful, that brings delight to the
whole of the person – things like a sunset, or a job well done, or
love.
And
for the spirit, we are drawn to things that fulfill our
desire to know the truth. This
last facet is most elusive facet to find
satisfaction for.
For
as long as humanity has existed, we have searched for the truth, like a pearl of great price. We
have studied the stars for it; we have sacrificed to greater powers for it, and we have
striven to be greater than our limitations because of it.
We
do this to free ourselves to discover, to loose the chains of
ignorance and weakness so that we can become what we inherently know
is our goal – eternal glory.
For
us Christians, our allegiance is, by definition, based on the
faith of Christ. At
baptism, we receive the indelible mark of the Children of God,
sharing in the inheritance of Christ, our brother by joining our
wills to Christ, our Lord (see CCC #1213).
Our
faith transcends other forms of allegiance, or at least ought to,
because it is not simply a blind obedience, but matures into a love
for following our God wherever he may lead us.
Our
part, then, becomes keeping the law of the Word of God; our
treasured possession becomes the compassion and kindness given
to us by the LORD because we have been found to be faithful and
faith-filled servants. (Ps. 119)
As
our second reading tells us, faith is the assurance that we will
receive what God wants for us because “all things work for good
for those who love God.” (Rom. 8:28)
That
while this will mean frustrations and even suffering, because He
wants to give us more that what the world can offer, it also
means that by our perseverance, we will show that we have been
predestined – through Christ – for the kingdom of heaven.
Faith
is a choice; a
choice that will mean sharing in the Love of God in heaven; a
choice that will mean purifying ourselves, separating the
wicked from the righteous found in our fallen natures.
But
is it a choice. We
are free the accept it, or to reject it. Ultimately,
faith must be a “conscious choice to welcome and respond to
God's [grace].” (“Assurance of Things Hoped For” by Avery
Dulles, SJ, pg 275)
It
cannot be coerced or forced; it cannot be superficial,
and it cannot be partial or incomplete.
Faith
must envelop our entire being; it must be what defines us and
guides us and admonishes us and comforts us.
We
must allow faith to break the mundane and finite chains of the
body and the soul so that the spirit can
become the eternal expanding force within us that longs to
participate in its infinite Creator.
We
a made to be limitless! We are destined to transcend
greatness!
And
all we have to do, is ask for it!
Today,
the LORD is speaking to each one of you, telling
you to “Ask something of [him], and [He] will give it to you”.
What
will you ask for?
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