Word to the Wise
Thursday, November 8, 2007 - Thirty-first Thursday in Ordinary Time
[Romans 14:7-12 and Luke 15:1-10]None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might Lord of both the dead and the living.
How does the idea of "belonging" to someone strike you? The response would probably be in terms of asking what is meant by "belonging!" If it means like a piece of property (as in the American version of slavery), there would be a definite aversion to it. If it means simply to be a member of some group, there would probably be no objection. But what about personal relationships? How do we "belong" to another person? Can someone have a claim on us that is not only emotional but physical and spiritual as well? I hope so, or marriage is doomed. What about belonging to God? Can we imagine that kind of belonging? St. Paul clearly tells us that we belong to God, alive or dead! This idea is part of Jesus' preaching when he constantly reminds us that God continues to call us and that we are destined for eternal life if only we don't rebel against that relationship. Adam and Eve were tempted in that regard by the thought that they could be equals in the relationship with God. They, and humanity in general, have had to learn the hard way. We do belong to God and we bring terrible consequences on ourselves by our refusal to accept that fact. It's like trying to completely divorce oneself from one's family. It's not possible but some people try it. Each of us carries that DNA in us, not to mention the emotional and physical formation that goes on in those early years. That heritage is no abstraction because it impacts every breath we draw. The same is true of our relationship with God. We may think we can get along without that relationship or that we are in charge of it, but that is a delusion. To belong to the greatest love possible seems to me to be worth more than any individualistic pride and independence. I'm very glad St. Paul assures me of that belonging! AMEN
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