Fr. Glenn Jones:
The Lord giveth…
…and the Lord taketh away.
That phrase of Job (Job 1:21) came to mind the last couple of weeks as each day saw roller coaster stock market fluctuations and the resulting uncertainty, and perhaps evaporation, of a large amount of the wealth that people so assiduously accumulate and invest … most, if not all, of the uncertainty sparked by the coronavirus scare. And thus we see how tenuous are the material things upon which we depend and set hopes upon … this current example showing how perhaps years of work and earnings may be wiped out—albeit indirectly—by even the tiniest of “living” things: a virus. Not only loss of wealth, but for those who contract it, loss of health and maybe even life … not even to mention the psychological security of billions around the globe.
And so it seems rather futile to make material wealth one’s end-all goal … especially when even such a little “bug”, or a faulty chromosome … or a fire, tornado or flood … can bring all to ruin in a virtual moment.
Jesus takes up that very theme in the parable of the rich man who depended upon his accumulated wealth: “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’” (Luke 12:20) What Jesus stopped short of saying is that which we priests and ministers witness all too often: “In a week you’ll be in the ground, and your family will be fighting for your scraps.” So, if you walked that wide path of good intentions never fulfilled: too late. The door on opportunity is closed. The ark is shut. The rain begins.
Therefore, it seems that true wisdom lay in seeking not what we can lose, but rather in those things which cannot be taken away: personal honor, charity, and the accompanying fulfillment that you have accomplished Good.
Honor accompanies integrity of word and action. There’s an old saying that all might remember: personal honor is the gift that you give to yourself, and only you can forfeit it. Even scripture lauds the value of the good name: “The days of a good life are numbered, but a good name endures forever,” (Sirach 41:13) and “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…” (Proverbs 22:1) Even the commandment prohibiting false witness is for the protection of the other’s honor and good name, forbidding calumny and slander.
That, of course, does not mean seeking to being well thought of when faced with challenges to what is good. We should not seek honors for honors’ sake; quite the contrary; honor lay only in doing the right. I have always been inspired by the story in 2 Maccabees in which the man of high position is willing to sacrifice all—even his life—to do the right, refusing to even feign capitulation: “But making a high resolve, worthy of his years and the dignity of his old age and the gray hairs which he had reached with distinction and his excellent life even from childhood, and moreover according to the holy God-given law, he declared: ‘Such pretense is not worthy of our time of life,’ he said, ‘lest many of the young should suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year has gone over to an alien religion, and…I defile and disgrace my old age…For even if for the present I should avoid the punishment of men, yet whether I live or die I shall not escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will show myself worthy of my old age and leave to the young a noble example of how to die a good death willingly and nobly for the revered and holy laws.’” (2 Maccabees 6:23-28)
Thus, we may well have to face the slings and arrows of criticism and even of being despised by others in defense of truth. After all, Jesus Himself was not “well thought of” by many (obviously; we need only remember His crucifixion), but always He walked with utmost (indeed, perfect) integrity. And Jesus Himself assures His disciples: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” (Matthew 5:10-12)
And so … whence comes honor? Through courage and integrity, yes … but perhaps even more so through selfless charity. Even hundreds of years later, we Christians—and the world—honor those who had great love and charity, which itself is courage: St. Francis of Assisi, who gave away all the wealth he possessed. Mother Teresa, who would not refuse even the poorest. St. Damian of Molokai, who ministered to an island of lepers for many years, until he himself contracted and died of the disease. St. Martín de Porres, who bathed the poor filth-covered slaves unloaded from the slave ships in Peru. These—and so many others, known and unknown, are declared saints not for accumulated wealth, but for the charity … their love … even for those who they knew not.
Jesus tells us: “…where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21) So, as charity is love of neighbor, and God is love (John 4:16), then in your charity your heart resides in God.
Yes, “The Lord giveth, and the taketh away…”…but He doesn’t do so in fits of pique or vindictiveness, but to make us appreciate that which is of true value. The man who loves his gold will find it a cold, fickle and unappreciative mistress, while he who gives receives much more in return: “…give, and it will be given to you; good measure…running over, will be put into your lap.” (Luke 6:38) And so … let us give our hearts to God through charity to our neighbor, for with Him they are in the safest of safekeepings. Forever.
Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.
