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Paul's 'Hymn to Christ' (Phil. 25:5-13) is concerned, generally, with the implications of life 'in Christ'. The 'purposeful renunciation', or deliberate emptying of Himself, to take on the lowliness of a human being is the ideal of 'poverty' which all Christians are expected to imitate. The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: para 41 mentions this: "...all who are moved by the Spirit of God...follow the poor Christ, the humble and cross-bearing Christ, in order to be made worthy of being partakers in this glory." This self-giving, this humility and abandoment of self-will, is not to be found among the original invited guests in Jesus' parable recounted by Luke. The banquet stands for the Kingdom of God. God has a free choice of guests who are invited formally at baptism. God's generosity should sensibly be responded to with an act of faith, obedience and gratitude, an emptying of oneself to do God's will. This parable, originally meant for Jesus' critics and opponents, unambiguously stresses that when the invited guests refuse because they cannot give up their own short-sighted wilfulness, they are easily replaced. This invitation to the Messianic banquet of salvation goes on for always, and it is for us today to decide if we can earn our salvation by emptying ourselves as Christ did. Lord, give us the grace to overcome our unconscious pride in wanting to serve You in our own way; rather help us to give ourselves as slaves to Your will. Amen. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That politicians and economists may feel it their duty to attend to the welfare of all people, giving first place to the most poverty-stricken
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This prophetic year 2000 projecting into the 3rd millennium is faced with people suffering from hunger, under-development, lack of work, abandoned old people, the sick without care and those suffering from the scourge of drugs. In front of these facts we are called to review our conduct, choices, commitment in the light of the causes which have determined them. Every Christian who is a member of a state and an economic system must take on himself specific responsibilities to overcome these negative elements which greatly disturb the harmonious development of persons and peoples and are at the root of poverty and of its increase. We cannot place ourselves in a situation of passive waiting for other people's conversion. Our personal conversion is the starting point for hope for the necessary changes of direction. It is our hearts we must change. Conversion is a grace given to those who ask the Saviour for it. We turn to the Lord, with insistent prayer, and ask that we may influence the "politicians and economists to feel it their duty to attend to the welfare of all people and especially the most poverty-stricken". | |
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