In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls us to do our good deeds
privately, from our heart, with love for God and for our neighbor, and without
any desire for recognition or reward.
I once read
this old Christian fable:
This Christian is walking down the road that leads
into Rome hoping to visit all the churches in the Holy City. In the distance he
sees an angel leaving Rome at a very fast pace. The angel rushes past him
carrying a burning torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. The Christian
calls out to the angel, “Angel, where are you going in such a hurry?” The angel
stops, turns to the Christian and says, “I’m off to burn down all the mansions
in heaven and put out all the fires in hell, and then we’ll see who really loves
God!”
Jesus calls
us to be holy. Holiness doesn’t know from mansions in heaven or fires in hell.
It’s not about leading a good life so that we make it into heaven. It’s about
leading a good life because we are so filled with God’s love for us that there
is no other way we could possibly live.
Holiness is
being in love with God. When we are in love with God, we are already in heaven.
When we turn ourselves away from God, we are in hell. Either way, the choice is
ours and the time is now.
………………………………………………………………………………..
Readers
of this blog might enjoy these books by Deacon Lex. Both are available on
Amazon.com:
Just to Follow My Friend: Experiencing God’s Presence in Everyday
Life
Synchronicity as the Work of the Holy Spirit: Jungian Insights for
Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Ministry
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