Twenty-Nineth of Year B - Service
October 2009
The physical world all round us (that is, what we can see, feel, hear, smell, taste) is created by God. The spiritual world all round us (that is, loving, forgiving, compassion, generosity, self giving) is also created by God. Therefore the physical world will tell us a lot about the spiritual world since both have the one source. Take selflessness; that is self-giving or service to others. Three words describing the same thing. Young children are totally selfish. As they grow older they begin to differentiate between those they like and those they dislike. They begin to find that sharing with or helping those they like brings them satisfaction and a certain kind of fulfilment. It makes them feel good. As teenagers and young adults we are still pretty self-centred but continue to find satisfaction or fulfilment in giving to or being of service to those we like.
Then I begin to love some particular person and the equation changes dramatically. The focus now is not myself but the other person. I begin to get huge satisfaction and fulfilment from being helpful and of service to the person I love. The final step comes when our love produces another human being - our child.
My life is now turned upside down. I take a huge step beyond myself, beyond my personal interests, preferences and desires and become a slave to the needs, desires and total wellbeing of this noisy, squirming bundle of selfishness. And what does this do for me? It brings me sleepless nights, frazzled nerves, distances me from former friends and mates, makes the very idea of my own spare time a sick joke, is constantly on my mind, brings me endless worry and even invades my dreams. But. It also brings me more satisfaction and fulfilment than I ever dreamed possible.
Why is this? God is Love. Love is selflessness, sharing, service to others. God made me in his own image and likeness (both physically and spiritually), therefore it is only natural that my greatest satisfaction and fulfilment comes from living in God’s image and likeness - being of service to others.
This love and service which I give my physical child must expand outwards to encompass (at least to some extent) my spiritual family - all God’s children. This is what is called Christianity.
I must constantly ask myself, am I a Christian?