13th Sunday Homily - Giving of ourselves

When school starts up again in August one of the actions all of us need to remember to do is slow down. In school zones the speed limit is 15 mph. Why? Clearly for the safety of children in and around our schools. People are required to slow down, to make a sacrifice, so that others can be safe.

This is what we call the common good. It has always been a part of society: individuals collectively give of themselves for the good of the others.

What happens when individuals choose not to do this? When people place more energy into themselves and what they think they want to do? I seem to remember last summer and fall quite a few children were hit by people in their cars who ignored the limit; some children were killed. Videos can be seen of people driving on sidewalks to get around school buses because they did not want to wait; placing children in harm's way, all for the sake of the driver’s desire.  How does that really create good?  

Makes me wonder what else we can do for the good of others?

Kenosis is a Greek word for self giving or self-emptying. It is a virtue of God. God gave of his only son to save the world. The Son gave of himself to become fully human. Jesus gave of himself so that all may know of the Father’s infinite love and died on the cross. 

God gives of Godself. And we humans, created in the image and like of God, also have within us the virtue of self-giving.

This is the Christian way.  And it is also the human way.

Think about it; in the Sacraments we celebrate giving of ourselves for the good of others.  Parents give of themselves to raise their children and bring them into the faith.  Couples give of themselves to each other in Marriage.  Men and women give of themselves to the good of the community through religious life.  Eucharist is all about self-giving, and it reminds us that it brings about true life.

Selfishness only brings more suffering, death; look at the state of our world. It is because too many are only concerned with themselves, and not enough of us are concerned with the needs of others. Think on marriages that failed, and the Bishops and Priests that have hurt our church. Racism and the violence towards people is another horrid expression.

Created in God’s own image, our purpose, our mission is to create goodness with and for God.  Our life involves the giving of ourselves for the good of all.  Jesus does not impose anything extra on us as human persons when we calls us to this. 

What he does is to give us the path and empower us to bring forth what is already within, to give of ourselves. We are empowered to be fully Human, and paradoxically, when fully human, we are closer to the divine.

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