By Fr. Glenn Jones:
As spring approacheth, always it is accompanied by billboards and ads promoting health, strength, fitness centers, etc., emblazoned with models sculpted so perfectly that Michaelangelo would be envious at the (apparent) skill. But, of course, remember that ol’ Mick didn’t have Photoshop or AI like modern ad agencies. Yet, we do remember from scripture something we know well by experience: “Health and soundness are better than all gold, and a robust body than countless riches.” (Sirach 30:15) Sooo…we trudge to the gym, the track, the pool…remove the clothes from the dusty home exercise equipment, and start…again. But we do best to remember St. Paul’s admonition: “Train yourself in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8) Maybe a bit of audio Bible or some other spiritual work while wearing out that treadmill, hmmm?
When one studies ethics or philosophy, it’s not particularly surprising that cultures throughout the world value pretty much the same traits: health and strength, courage, honor, kindness, charity, etc. Christians have the teachings of Jesus which emphasize love of God and neighbor—the two great commandments—but as Jesus Himself notes, these came long before He walked the earth—in the Old Testament Jewish law. But these are hardly unique to Judeo-Christianity, but also tenets of Islam and other religions/many cultures around the world.
This is (I think) one of the primary reasons Christianity spread throughout the world so rapidly—because created within us is the knowledge of the rightness and righteousness, of loving God and neighbor. In that early (and not so early) age of imperial conquest and war, these ideals came to be increasingly understood by many as the supreme philosophy by which a person could live life … even if it took (and is taking) a long time to be realized.
But Christianity’s message and actions were (ideally) not limited, but rather extended to anyone who came to believe, regardless of race, nationality, etc. Failures of its taking root was not inherent in the message itself, but very often due to the failures/hypocrisy of both messengers and adherents—ministers who preach fidelity but were unfaithful, charity but uncharitable, spouting the virtue of poverty but live opulently, etc. Such is relentless human weakness and tendency to selfishness.
And yet many of the messages of Christianity are in other religions and philosophies, because In the human core—in every human, not matter how deeply hidden from the world–is a reflection of God. As one sees the father in his son, the mother in her daughter, so is God’s image reflected in we, His creations. And this is why human life is so precious, for just as each of a family’s children is unique and loved, so is every person a unique and unrepeatable miracle brought into existence by Him … a child of God for whom Jesus died to save.
This makes us wonder sometimes: Why did God create us? Aren’t we more trouble than we’re worth? Why does He put up with us?!
St. Irenaeus, an early bishop considered as a father of the Church, wrote in “Against Heresies”: “God created Adam, not because he needed man, but because he wanted to have someone on whom to bestow his blessings…because he is good and merciful, he desires to confer benefits on those who persevere in his service.”
Hmmm…“service”. We don’t normally like that word since it whispers of indentured servitude, or even slavery.
Not so. With free will we choose God … or not. To do what is right and good … or not.
But what IS service to God? Well, service to anyone implies fulfilling that person’s will. So, what does God will for us to do? We hear from the prophet Isaiah during the Lenten season: “Is this the manner of fasting [re: “service”] I wish…that a man bow his head like a reed and lie in sackcloth and ashes?…This, rather, is the fasting [service] that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed…sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own…If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted … then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:5-7, 9)
Jesus Himself would echo Isaiah: “…the King will say… ‘I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:35-40)
Thus, we conclude that, to love our neighbor as ourselves is essential to loving God with whole heart, mind, soul and strength. And, if one has not explicitly found God, in loving our neighbor, can loving God be very distant? The twain come together, for as St. John reminds us, God IS love, and thus to love is a participation in the very essence—the will of, and service to—God.
So, to St. Irenaeus again: “This is the glory of man: to persevere and remain in the service of God. For this reason the Lord told his disciples: ‘You did not choose me but I chose you.’ He meant that his disciples did not glorify him by following him, but in following the Son of God they were glorified by him. As he said: ‘I wish that where I am they also may be.’”
Editor’s note: 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.
