What May We Give to the One Who Created Everything?

Prayer-Soldier

What May We Give to the One Who Created Everything?

He arose, and went to Sarephta. And when he was come to the gate of the city, he saw the widow woman gathering sticks, and he called her, and said to her: Give me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

And when she was going to fetch it he called after her, saying: Bring me also, I beseech you, a morsel of bread in your hand. And she answered: As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, but only a handful of meal in a pot, and a little oil in a cruse: behold I am gathering two sticks that I may go in and dress it, for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elias said to her: Fear not, but go, and do as you have said: but first make for me of the same meal a little hearth cake, and bring it to me: and after make for yourself and your son. For thus said the Lord the God of Israel: The pot of meal shall not waste, nor the cruse of oil be diminished, until the day wherein the Lord will give rain upon the face of the earth. She went and did according to the word of Elias: and he ate, and she, and her house: and from that day the pot of meal wasted not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke in the hand of Elias. (1 Kings 17:10-16)

For Jesus is not entered into the holies made with hands, the patterns of the true: but into heaven itself, that he may appear now in the presence of God for us. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holies, every year with the blood of others:

For then he ought to have suffered often from the beginning of the world: but now once at the end of ages, he has appeared for the destruction of sin, by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment: So also Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many; the second time he shall appear without sin to them that expect him unto salvation. ( Hebrews 9:24-28 )

And he said to them in his doctrine: Beware of the scribes, who love to walk in long robes, and to be saluted in the marketplace, and to sit in the first chairs, in the synagogues, and to have the highest places at suppers: Who devour the houses of widows under the pretense of long prayer: these shall receive greater judgment.

And Jesus sitting over against the treasury, beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing. And calling his disciples together, he said to them: Amen I say to you, this poor widow has cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living. (Mark 12:38-44)

Reflection:

Is it possible to see all the ways the Lord provides for our lives? If we examine how we live, we might be surprised at all which we take for granted. If we attempt to survive without any assistance from others, we will find the task to be extremely challenging. If we attempt to survive without the benefit of His creation, we will find the task to be impossible.

He created us to care for one another. It is through this caring and sharing we are better able to survive. It is through the work of many hands that most of us receive our daily food, water, shelter, clothes, and warmth. We often take for granted from where all our comforts come. Though we are aware the source of the things required for our survival often comes from the work of many hands, we rarely ponder from whence came all the resources which are refined for our comforts. How it is that we live on a planet with so much from which hands are able to till, gather, mine and refine? We rarely ponder how it is we have so much that we may not only survive, but thrive. If people did not work together, our economies would collapse. More importantly, if we did not have all the physical laws of His creation which provides all which we till, gather, mine and refine; life would not be possible. We, therefore, survive through the blessings of His creation and those with whom He calls us to share in work, civility, charity, love and faith.

Some believe that all we enjoy simply exists, that there is no Creator; but if we open our eyes, if we examine all which surrounds us, if we see all of its wonder, beauty, complexity, inter-relationships and dependencies; we should wonder how anyone cannot see the finger prints of God.

When Elijah was in need, God provided for His prophet. So it is, God provides for us. In prayer, we should offer thanks and praise for His gifts, including those He guides to till, gather, mine, refine as well as share in work, civility, charity, and love.

While His entire creation is a gift to us, His greatest gift is His only begotten Son. Through Him, we receive the One who takes away the sins of the world. Through Him, we are taught the blessings of His Word. Through Him, we learn about the love God has always intended for us. Through Him, we have the opportunity for eternal life in the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven.

As we reflect upon all the gifts we receive from God, we should ask ourselves, what is it which God asks of us? In response to His gifts, what is it we can give the One who created everything? The answer is simple, what He asks from us is love; love for Him as well as one another.

It is simple, yet so many struggle in their understanding. We need not struggle, for if we pray to Him, He will guide us. If we ask Him, He will let us see our opportunities to live our faith. If we ask Him, He will help us see our opportunities to demonstrate our love of Him and one another through how we share in work, civility, charity, love and faith.

[I]May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier[I]