Faith, Scripture and the Selfless Heart

Prayer-Soldier

Faith, Scripture and the Selfless Heart

Scripture:

And Josue gathered together all the tribes of Israel in Sichem, and called for the ancients, and the princes and the judges, and the masters: and they stood in the sight of the Lord: And he spoke thus to the people: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Your fathers dwelt of old on the other side of the river, Thare the father of Abraham, and Nachor: and they served strange gods.

But if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, you have your choice: choose this day that which pleases you, whom you would rather serve, whether the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the gods of the Amorrhites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord, And the people answered, and said, God forbid we should leave the Lord, and serve strange gods. The Lord our God he brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage: and did very great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way by which we journeyed, and among all the people through whom we passed.

Therefore we will serve the Lord, for he is our God. (Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b)

Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ. Let women be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord: Because the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church. He is the savior of his body. Therefore as the church is subject to Christ: so also let the wives be to their husbands in all things.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the church and delivered himself up for it: That he might sanctify it, cleansing it by the bath of water in the word of life: That he might present it to himself, a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So also ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as also Christ does the church: Because we are members of him, body, of his flesh and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother: and shall cleave to his wife. And they shall be two in one flesh. This is a great sacrament: but I speak in Christ and in the church. (Ephesians 5:21-32)

Many therefore of his disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard; and who can hear it? But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them: Does this scandalize you? If then you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickens: the flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that did not believe and who he was that would betray him. And he said: Therefore did I say to you that no man can come to me, unless it be given him by my Father. After this, many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away? And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and have known that you are the Christ, the Son of God. (John 6:60-69)

Reflection:

He has left to us the choice as to the path we wish to follow. For those who know him, the choice is simple, for they understand the greatness of the Lord and the wisdom of His ways. Those who do not know Him are easily swayed by the world and fall prey to false prophets. If we seek Him in prayer, He will guide our hearts.

If we look around us, we will see Him, for His creation is vast and wonderful. If we examine the steps of our lives, we will see where He has walked beside us. If we choose not to see Him, he will still be there, calling to us, seeking to enter our hearts. Though the world may blind us, if we open our hearts in prayer, we will feel Him, we will know for certain He is there.

The time will come to everyone where they will be asked who they choose to follow, who they choose to serve. If the heart is filled with selfishness, it will be difficult to understand the ways of God, but if the heart is filled with selflessness, the path will be easy to see. Those who see the light should ask in prayer that the selfish heart be turned so that all may see and enjoy His blessings. In prayer we should ask for protection from the temptations of the world so that we are only guided by His love.

In this day and time, some believe the Word must change for the ways of people have changed, but the ways in which people change are not always just. As we read scripture, we too often seek to use the words for our own agendas rather than to understand the will of God. He made us male and female, not to be in competition with one another, but to complete one another and minister to His creation. He made us male and female so that two would join together to provide for one another, to nurture the generations and to do His will in love.

Christ gave us our example, as the head of the church, He gave all so that the children of His creation might be saved. He did not come to the world to subjugate and oppress it, but to fill it with the blessings of love and caring. As the Son of the Father, the Creator of all that is visible and invisible, He has the power to do all things, but He gave the suffering of His passion in sacrifice and love for both the strong and the weak. The obedience He asks is that we love Him with all our heart, with all our mind and with all our soul; and He also asks that we love one another as we would love ourselves. If we follow His ways, hate will not pass our lips nor will evil be the work of our hands, only His love and the blessings of His Word will guide us.

What God desires of us cannot be learned from one verse of scripture, especially when it is isolated from its context, but must be learned from the body of the Word and what He reveals in our heart when we pray. A man cannot read the scripture which anoints him as the head of his household without also reading the scripture which lays out for him all the responsibilities which come from it. Nor should a woman turn away from her husband without understanding from what she turns. If she understands the position of her husband, she also understands her own responsibilities, the partnership God has sealed through the sacrament of marriage and that what is asked of her is to love her husband as he is asked to love her.

Should either the man or woman view scripture in selfishness, they will only see what serves their own desires; they will rebel against the sacrifice which love demands; but if they view scripture with a selfless heart, they will see the love God asks of each of the children of His creation.

He came to us to be the way, the bread of eternal life. He told us that if we eat of His body and drink His blood, we shall have everlasting life and be raised up on the last day. (John 6:54) For some, the understanding of what He offers is difficult. They do not understand the blessings of selflessness and the joy of love. They believe they may be fulfilled by selfish desires, but do not understand why their thirst cannot be quenched. Though one may have riches and fame, if they do not have love, their hearts remain empty. The soul which is not fulfilled with love finds comfort fleeting.

Blessed are those who see past the selfishness of the world and the temptations of evil, for the path they walk, while it may be difficult in this world, is blessed in the next. Evil has a hold in this day because the people allow it to be so; but the more who turn to Him in prayer open the door for love to fill the land. Blessed are those who seek the scripture with selfless hearts, for they will be filled with the love it brings. Those who see must pray for the blind, for none can force those who do not see to walk the path of light. He has left it this way so that we will reveal who among us freely chooses the path of love.

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