Sharing Blessings Through Loving Action

Prayer-Soldier

Sharing Blessings Through Loving Action

Scripture:

And now, O Israel, hear the commandments and judgments which I teach you: that doing them, you may live, and entering in may possess the land which the Lord the God of your fathers will give you. You shall not add to the word that I speak to you, neither shall you take away from it: keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

And you shall observe, and fulfill them in practice. For this is your wisdom, and understanding in the sight of nations, that hearing all these precepts, they may say: Behold a wise and understanding people, a great nation. Neither is there any other nation so great, that has gods so nigh them, as our God is present to all our petitions. For what other nation is there so renowned that has ceremonies, and just judgments, and all the law, which I will set forth this day before your eyes?
( Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 )

Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. For of his own will has he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creatures.

Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep the self of one unspotted from this world.
(James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27)

And there assembled together unto him the Pharisees and some of the scribes, coming from Jerusalem. And when they had seen some of his disciples eat bread with common, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews eat not without often washing their hands, holding the tradition of the ancients: And when they come from the market, unless they be washed, they eat not: and many other things there are that have been delivered to them to observe, the washings of cups and of pots, and of brazen vessels, and of beds. And the Pharisees and scribes asked him: Why do not your disciples walk according to the tradition of the ancients, but they eat bread with common hands? But he answering, said to them: Well did Isaias prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men. For leaving the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pots and of cups: and many other things you do like to these.

And calling again the multitude unto him, he said to them: Hear me all, and understand. There is nothing from without a man that entering into him, can defile him. But the things which come from a man, those are they that defile a man.

For from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile a man.
(Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23)

Reflection:

The commandments, which God passed to us through Moses, are meant to guide us in our relationship with our Creator as well as one another. If we abide by them, we express our love to God and live in respect and caring for one another. They are commandments designed to prevent the harm we do when we act in selfishness, pride, lust, envy, and greed.

There are those who resist His Word, yet do they comprehend why they resist? As we examine His commandments, we must ask, what benefit do we derive by violating them? While we may perceive power or pleasure, it is ill gotten and obtained at the expense or harm of another. We only demonstrate the evil which contaminates us when we disregard the rights of those who surround us and neglect the worship we owe to the One who Created and loves us.

Blessed are we that we have a God who encourages us through the blessings of love. Blessed are we that we have a God that desires our love and that we share our love with one another.

We are who we are, not because of what we profess, but because of what we do. Words are important, but they carry little meaning when there is no action behind them. If we tell God in our prayers only what we believe He desires to hear, but then act in opposing ways, which do we expect He will give greater weight on the day of our judgment?

Let us, then, look at our lives and examine what we do. Let us consider that our actions, or lack of action, speaks louder than our words. Let us back up our words with our work. Let us work, even in the silence of our words, in ways pleasing to the Lord. Let us be doers of His Word and not mere spectators of the blessings which we may share.

One of the criticisms Jesus levied upon the Pharisees is that they spoke of the law and readily judged others concerning the law, but failed to honor the law with their own actions. In their judgment of others, their lips spoke, but their actions in the affairs of family, community, commerce, and worship revealed their selfishness and the desires they put before their relationship with God.

We are called not to judge one another (cf Matthew 7:1-5), for we have our own sins over which we must be concerned, but neither are we called to ignore the sins which surround us. We are called to reproach one another, not to condemn, rather, to encourage one another to what is right and just. (cf Collasians 3:16)

We must examine what is wrong if we are to comprehend the causes and to discern how we may prevent further misteps, but our efforts must be done with compassion and with the same forgiveness we hope to receive for our own sins. (cf Matthew 6:15) We must reproach one another, not with arrogance, haughtiness, or pretentiousness; rather, with civility, humility, and encouragement to act according to what is right and just.

If we are tempted to judge others before we judge ourselves, let us look to the Lord go guide us in what is right and just. Let us, in prayer, ask God to move our hearts to how we may help and encourage one another so we may turn away from the evils of the world and bring forth the blessings we may share. Let us endeavor to solve the problems of our day, not for purposes of power or accolades, but for purposes of what God asks of us. Let us, then, share the blessings of the Lord through what we do and how we live.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways may we share blessings as we live by the commandments of God?

In what ways may we be doers of His Holy Word and not mere spectators?

How might we constructively reproach one another rather than judge and condemn?

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