Thinking and acting like Jesus

You have fattened your hearts. (James 5:5)

In today’s first reading, James upbraids his readers for storing up treasure for their own personal gain—but his concern goes far beyond their individual actions. He is concerned for the state of their hearts, as well as for the eternal consequences this will have on them. Instead of keeping their hearts “lean” by putting love into action, James tells them that they have “fattened” their hearts by focusing on themselves. Evidently, some of them were withholding wages from their farmworkers so that they themselves could live in luxury. James calls this a kind of “murder” because it keeps people locked in poverty and hopelessness (James 5:6). 

James knew that where there is no kindness or justice, there is no love. He knew that people who have been touched by the Lord know better than to practice abuses like these. And so he reproaches them not only for what they have done but also for the way they have let their hearts become hardened.

James understood that our actions reveal the state of our hearts. When we are moved by the love of God, we naturally look for ways we can share that love with the people around us. We begin to think and act like Jesus, not because we are trying to put on a show, but because our hearts are being formed by his Holy Spirit.

At the same time, James is telling us that there are ways that we can make our hearts more “lean.” We shouldn’t just wait for the Spirit to change us; we can take steps to change ourselves. We can condition our hearts by putting our loving thoughts and impulses into action.

But it’s not all up to us. Every time we choose to act in love, the Holy Spirit takes our efforts and transforms them with his power. 

So stretch yourself today. Try to be a little more patient. Try to endure someone’s faults with a smile. Take that extra step to be generous to someone you might ordinarily walk past. If you exercise charity, charity will exercise you. God’s love will replace the fears and selfish tendencies that drag you down. It’s a gradual conversion process that has eternal merit!

“Father, teach me how to put love into action. I want to enrich my heart by imitating your merciful love.”

from wau.org

The power of prayer

Helen was almost late for a job interview for which punctuality was a must. As she drove into the parking lot, she could see it was filled. Panicking, she prayed, “Lord, please help me find a parking spot.” As she rounded the corner, right in front of her was an empty space. “That’s okay, Lord,” she prayed. “I found one myself.”

We may chuckle at this story, but it raises a good question: why are we so quick to look for natural solutions and slow to look for the supernatural answers? Could it be a lack of trust in God? We read self-help books to cope with the challenges in life. We go to friends for advice on how to handle troublesome situations. We automatically call a doctor when a loved one gets sick. But we don’t think naturally about taking our challenges to Jesus, either for his intervention or for his help in persevering.

Isn’t this what happened to Jesus’ disciples when they were unable to heal the young man possessed with demons? It seems that they were relying on their own abilities instead of God’s power. Jesus told them that they were unsuccessful because “this kind can only come out through prayer”—something it seems they hadn’t done (Mark 9:29). 

This story shows us how crucial intercessory prayer is. It tells us that we can bring all of our petitions to the Lord and that he will act. Remember, you are not merely a “natural” person. Created in the image and likeness of God, you have a “spiritual” dimension as well. As you pray, you can connect with the Holy Spirit and make a difference in this world. You don’t have to be subject to every bad situation that comes your way. Neither do you have to think that your loved ones are stuck in their ruts. You can pray, and lives can change! 

No matter how powerless you may feel today, tell yourself that Jesus is with you anyway. Tell yourself that he can help you to reach out to people and pray for them. Go ahead; ask, seek, and knock. Surely God will answer.

from wau.org

God with us

What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. (Acts 17:23)

In the opening paragraph of his encyclical Faith and Reason, Pope John Paul II wrote: “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself.” Today’s first reading depicts the Athenians as a people who earnestly desired to rise to that contemplation of truth, and it tells us how Paul offered them the good news as a way to strengthen their “faith wing.”

In the time of Paul, the city of Athens was full of temples and shrines to various deities. Using human reason, the Greeks came to the correct, but incomplete, conclusion that there was a vast spiritual realm that we can’t fully see or comprehend. Their society was built on the idea that a people would thrive so long as they kept the gods happy and be punished if they did not. So a sense of fear became a built-in part of their spirituality. They were so anxious about keeping every single god happy that they erected a shrine—probably several, according to archaeologists—to an “Unknown God,” in case they had left anyone out (Acts 17:23). 

Notice how gracious Paul is—and how smart. Instead of accusing the Greeks of idolatry, he commends their search for the truth. Then he uses their concept of an unknown god to introduce a new idea: this god has made himself known—and he is the one true God! Not only that, but he has stepped out of the shadows to walk with us.

Recalling this story highlights the miracle of the Incarnation, the miracle of God making himself known to us in a personal way. God saw our longing for the truth, so he sent Jesus to come be with us and to show us the truth. He is no longer unknown. In everything he said and did, especially in his cross and resurrection, Jesus revealed the invisible, all-powerful God. And wonder of wonders, he showed us that God is our Father, our Redeemer, and our Friend!

from wau.org

Not your strength

No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

When you’re applying for a job at a large company, it’s pretty certain that you will have to deal with the human resources department. It can seem like a pretty ruthless process. There are hundreds of résumés to go through, so unless yours really stands out, it will likely get tossed out immediately. If you’re lucky enough to make the cut, then you have to compete with the other top candidates. If you were to survive all that, you would definitely be feeling blessed!

When we hear Jesus saying, “No one comes to the Father except through me,” we may be tempted to think he is like that human resources manager (John 14:6). We picture him standing with his arms crossed, weeding out those who don’t have what it takes to get to heaven. But look at Philip, one of the saints whose feast we celebrate today. He didn’t get everything right away. He didn’t understand how Jesus was going to feed five thousand people with just a little bread and a couple of fish. And in today’s passage, he asks Jesus to show him the Father—after having spent three years hearing him talk about his Father!

It’s a good thing for Philip—and for us—that we don’t have to qualify for a position to follow the Lord. You’re family, not an employee! Instead of standing with his arms closed, Jesus has them opened wide. He is always happy to embrace us and bring us to his Father.

Do you worry sometimes that God might reject you or that he might pass you by because you’re not good enough? Then today’s passage is for you! Do you worry that you haven’t done enough to win his approval or to merit heaven? This passage is for you as well. Jesus is the way, not your hard work. It’s true that no one comes to the Father except through him. But it’s also true that he brings everyone to the Father who comes to him. He excludes no one. Not Philip. Not James. And certainly not you! 

from wau.org