The other day my friend Robin shared a dream.
She had died and found herself entering heaven.
As she walked into the heavenly city she was immediately
greeted by a little girl named Maria who threw her arms around Robin’s neck and
said, ‘Robin, it’s so nice to meet you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!’
Maria was the Robin’s sponsored child.
They had never met, simply exchanged letters, along with
Robin’s monthly checks that allowed Maria to go to school, receive
vaccinations, as well as regular meals in her third world country. Robin’s
sacrifice for Maria really meant something. Jesus was right.
Many of the decisions and lifestyle choices you and I make
are based on similar thinking. When you and I decide not to answer hurt with
vengeance, anger with fury, and frustration with aggravation – when we decide
that our present sacrifices – of good cheer through hardship, dignity through
disaster, and faith through trial – are what we really should do, we are acting
in faith that what Jesus talked about was really true.
In Sunday’s Gospel Jesus tells his disciples that the huge
Jewish temple will be destroyed – but not to worry because all will be fine in
the end. He is asking his followers not to pay too much attention to living
according to worldly thinking and carnal pursuits – rather to live focused on
the things above.
Don’t live this life, live that life.
Every day you and I face similar decisions that express the
kind of life we’re choosing to live. And our challenge remains constant: to
live for others, to surrender to love, to brush aside fear and anger – to live
as if Jesus’ words were true.
As we face the day’s decisions, in what ways can we make
them less in line with this life and more in line with that one?
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Reading
Parting the Waters – Taylor Branch
The Faith Club – Idiby, Oliver, and Warner
The Sermon on the Mount – Emmet Fox
