A Piece of God is in All of us!
Today, often we find ourselves a bit unsteady, as we navigate our personal life in this fragile world. These moments cause fear and make us doubt our own safety. When this happens, we want to protect ourselves. We build walls to ward off dangers, lock our possessions in safe places, and take many steps to ensure that our investments are safeguarded. While these may seem to be practical precautions to protect our future, it is not the way the Lord wants us to live our lives in His kingdom.
Jesus preached another way. He insisted that we are not placed on this earth to hide riches and gains in safe places, like a nearby storage rental or in an offshore bank account. Rather, Jesus asks us to live each day by “being rich toward God, Our Father.” How does He propose we do this? Simply by being open to seeing “others” in our lives--with generous hearts and open hands.
When we live this way, we are "standing in" for God, caring and loving in God’s place- right where we live--when we take the time to listen carefully and actually hear what others need or how they are handling their lives. When we give these moments of love and concern to another who needs them, our God accepts these simple acts, these riches as praise for Himself ---and He is delighted to do so!
For what we are saying with each act of kindness--- is how much we appreciate a God who made each of us equally and the same. Through our sharing of our time and presence with another, we connect that "little piece of God” found in all of us and we embrace God Himself. It is at that point that God’s kingdom shines more brightly and God's reign glows more gloriously all around us---especially in our dark corners. And didn’t the Lord say? “I desire mercy (translated Kindness) not sacrifice!”
Jesus often reminds us that God is not impressed with material possessions or goods. What delights God the most are our acts of love given to our needy brothers and sisters. God accepts every one of these acts as the priceless jewels, they are!
When we find ways to connect with “the piece of God” in others, instead of keeping them at a distance, we echo the words of Mother Teresa preached about following Jesus. “God does not require that we be successful only that we be faithful.
And the beauty of connecting the “pieces of God” --buried in all of us--“one piece” at a time --leaves less for the Lord to do in eternity. And we are “being rich for the Lord.” This request of the Lord is no more than He would do for us, and our reward is never-ending and freeing. Now isn’t this an offer we don’t want to refuse?
