Just giving

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Carl Rathjens (1887-1966)
Photo of Jewish youth in Sana’a Yemen, grinding coffee grains on millstone, 1934

Generosity contains a large measure of justice. Those who share their resources recognize that all people deserve to eat, live in a safe home, and have access to good health care and education.

Greed, then, contains a large measure of injustice. Those who are afraid to share their resources have forgotten the command to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Today I will share my time, talent, or material resources with someone in need.

Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. James 5:4

A peaceful solution

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Refugee Children
Andy Wheatley, UK Department for International Development
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” Mark 9:37

When I am dismayed by the violence, finger-pointing, injustice, and anger that is prevalent in society, I look deep inside to uncover and let go of my own envy, arrogance, selfishness, and resentment.

To bring the fruit of peace, responsibility, compassion, and forgiveness to my interactions is my daily calling so that I may be a small part of the solution to what troubles our world.

Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace. James 3:16-18

In the moment

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Harry Fenn (1845-1911)
Caesarea Philippi (Banias)
Watercolor, gouache, brown ink, and graphite on light brown wove paper
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Even the low times contain a stillpoint of joy. The Lord is right there in the moment. I do not walk alone.

Gracious is the Lord and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The Lord keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
Psalm 116:5-6

Impediments

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Meister von Müstair
Heilung des Taubstummen
fresco, ca.830
Müstair (Schweiz), Klosterkirche St. Johann

Sometimes I cannot hear the Lord’s call to love my neighbor, forgive those who hurt me, and befriend the poor. It’s not that I willfully oppose the Lord’s call, but that I am afflicted in the moment with anxiety, depression, physical pain, or other distracting states of mind and being.

May I forgive myself for my human imperfections and pray that the impediments that prevent me from hearing, speaking, and acting on the Good News of love and healing be removed.

[Jesus] said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. Mark 7:34-35

In trust

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Jan Luyken
Eating with Unwashed Hands
Etching from the Phillip Medhurst Collection of Bible illustrations housed at Belgrave Hall, Leicester, England
By Phillip Medhurst [CC BY-SA 3.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons

Life experiences can be overwhelming, stressful, and undermining, but they are not a reflection of who we are. We are God’s beloved daughters and sons. Nothing will ever change God’s love for us.

Today I will thank God for loving me. When adversity enters my life, I will trust God is with me, and respond with courage, forgiveness, and compassion.

He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” Mark 7:14-15

Eternal words

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Jesus and apostles. Fresco in Cappadocia
ca.XII c.

God loved us into being. God’s love pours into us and through us and out of us to touch others with tangible, visible, generous love.

Love of God, neighbor, and self: the words of eternal life.

Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:67-68

Through, with, and in Wisdom

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Seven Pillars of Wisdom at Wadi Rum
By Daniel Case [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons

Love is the will of God. I learn to embody the will of God by practicing respect, forgiveness, kindness, compassion, generosity, patience, and acceptance with all people—even my “enemies.”

Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. Ephesians 5:17