In Case the Importance of the Easter Season Hasn't Quite Sunk In Yet
We're now five weeks into the Easter Season. Last week we continued our focus on bringing the Easter Season to work by noting the importance of being risen with Christ. We then delved into what this really means. Our diligent pursuit of excellence in our daily work can serve as an essential springboard here, if we offer all our work for the greater glory of God. But having done that, we saw that there's still more work to do. To assist us in that work, we remember that the Easter Season provides the graces we need to understand and pursue our goal of rising with Christ.
Summing up, we learned that we rise with Christ in so far as we raise our gaze from the task at hand towards "higher things." Referencing the rich man who approached Our Lord, we saw that we must not be sidetracked by worldly desires. Subsequently we learned what we need to do to break out of the constraints of a purely worldly view. These include an ascetic life of daily sacrifice, combined with setting our minds on things above. Spiritual reading will be critical here. We need to set aside some time (and it doesn't have to be a lot) to read solid spiritual works. That, along with a desire for heaven, will help lift our thoughts from our everyday surroundings.
Now some of us may find all of this spiritual stuff a bit extreme, far-fetched, or maybe beyond our capabilities. So, today, let's look at some choice passages from the Book of Wisdom. These should shake up those of us who don't put in the effort to keep our spiritual lives front and center, before and above all our other endeavors. In addition, they should also reassure those of us who who aren't confident enough in our spiritual grounding to enable us to join our Risen Christ as He leads us from death to life everlasting. Most importantly, though, we'll see that, really, we have no choice here. You either get with the program, or you're closing the door right in Our Savior's face. If you think that sounds a bit harsh, consider this: If you're not committed to following Christ every moment of every day in every aspect of your life, you're effectively cutting Him off from your life either entirely or in part. Now think about this: If you're cutting Him off from even a part of your life, aren't you telling Him He's not welcome here or at this time? If you really love someone, is that the way you treat them? Love isn't partial or part-time - not real love anyway.
These verses from the Book of Wisdom makes it clear that the way of the Lord doesn't allow for half-measures, or halfheartedness. God's laws are not suggestions. Our Lord's example of selflessness and sacrifice provide a "gold standard" to which we compare our own thoughts, words, and actions.
(By the way, if you haven't yet developed the practice of reading Scripture each day, the Book of Wisdom might be a good place to get the ball rolling. It's simply filled with, well, wisdom, most of which you'll easily be able to apply to your daily life, including your work life.)
Here the Book of Wisdom tells us that far too many of us do not, in fact, follow God's law; our lives demonstrate neither selflessness nor a spirit of sacrifice. Rather, pride drives our thoughts and behavior, resulting in a focus on worldly wealth and pleasure. As we read this passage, ask yourself whether this applies to how you lead your own life. If it doesn't apply, God's grace has had its way. If it does, it's time to take stock and start praying for that grace. Finally, if it only partially applies, it's not time to pat your self on the back; its time to pray more ardently.
...but the way of the Lord we have not known. What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us? All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on, And as a ship that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found, nor the path of its keep in the waters:
Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light air, and parting it by the force of her flight; she moved her wings and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her way: Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air presently cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known: So we also being born forthwith ceased to be: and have been able to shew no mark of virtue; but are consumed in our wickedness. Such things as these the sinners said in hell: For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a guest of one day that passeth by.
Whether you're suffering from spiritual torpor or a lack of confidence, if you read these words carefully they should shake you to your core. Your choice should be clear, if it wasn't already so. Will you pursue that which is "here today, gone tomorrow"? Or will you "do what you gotta do" to place yourself in the Presence of the Risen Christ during this most Holy Season of Easter?
Summing up, we learned that we rise with Christ in so far as we raise our gaze from the task at hand towards "higher things." Referencing the rich man who approached Our Lord, we saw that we must not be sidetracked by worldly desires. Subsequently we learned what we need to do to break out of the constraints of a purely worldly view. These include an ascetic life of daily sacrifice, combined with setting our minds on things above. Spiritual reading will be critical here. We need to set aside some time (and it doesn't have to be a lot) to read solid spiritual works. That, along with a desire for heaven, will help lift our thoughts from our everyday surroundings.
Now some of us may find all of this spiritual stuff a bit extreme, far-fetched, or maybe beyond our capabilities. So, today, let's look at some choice passages from the Book of Wisdom. These should shake up those of us who don't put in the effort to keep our spiritual lives front and center, before and above all our other endeavors. In addition, they should also reassure those of us who who aren't confident enough in our spiritual grounding to enable us to join our Risen Christ as He leads us from death to life everlasting. Most importantly, though, we'll see that, really, we have no choice here. You either get with the program, or you're closing the door right in Our Savior's face. If you think that sounds a bit harsh, consider this: If you're not committed to following Christ every moment of every day in every aspect of your life, you're effectively cutting Him off from your life either entirely or in part. Now think about this: If you're cutting Him off from even a part of your life, aren't you telling Him He's not welcome here or at this time? If you really love someone, is that the way you treat them? Love isn't partial or part-time - not real love anyway.
These verses from the Book of Wisdom makes it clear that the way of the Lord doesn't allow for half-measures, or halfheartedness. God's laws are not suggestions. Our Lord's example of selflessness and sacrifice provide a "gold standard" to which we compare our own thoughts, words, and actions.
(By the way, if you haven't yet developed the practice of reading Scripture each day, the Book of Wisdom might be a good place to get the ball rolling. It's simply filled with, well, wisdom, most of which you'll easily be able to apply to your daily life, including your work life.)
Here the Book of Wisdom tells us that far too many of us do not, in fact, follow God's law; our lives demonstrate neither selflessness nor a spirit of sacrifice. Rather, pride drives our thoughts and behavior, resulting in a focus on worldly wealth and pleasure. As we read this passage, ask yourself whether this applies to how you lead your own life. If it doesn't apply, God's grace has had its way. If it does, it's time to take stock and start praying for that grace. Finally, if it only partially applies, it's not time to pat your self on the back; its time to pray more ardently.
...but the way of the Lord we have not known. What hath pride profited us? or what advantage hath the boasting of riches brought us? All those things are passed away like a shadow, and like a post that runneth on, And as a ship that passeth through the waves: whereof when it is gone by, the trace cannot be found, nor the path of its keep in the waters:
Or as when a bird flieth through the air, of the passage of which no mark can be found, but only the sound of the wings beating the light air, and parting it by the force of her flight; she moved her wings and hath flown through, and there is no mark found afterwards of her way: Or as when an arrow is shot at a mark, the divided air presently cometh together again, so that the passage thereof is not known: So we also being born forthwith ceased to be: and have been able to shew no mark of virtue; but are consumed in our wickedness. Such things as these the sinners said in hell: For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a guest of one day that passeth by.
Whether you're suffering from spiritual torpor or a lack of confidence, if you read these words carefully they should shake you to your core. Your choice should be clear, if it wasn't already so. Will you pursue that which is "here today, gone tomorrow"? Or will you "do what you gotta do" to place yourself in the Presence of the Risen Christ during this most Holy Season of Easter?
Happy Easter!
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