Lesson from Fr. Paulus | The Touchstone of a True Christian

Through baptism, we became members of the body of Christ, brothers and sisters of the Lord, and children of God. In our journey through life, we either stay faithful to that vocation and identity, or abandon it (sometimes we go back and forth).

In this Gospel passage, Christ gives us the sign that tells us whether we are living up to our vocation, the touchstone of the true Christian. It isn't vast theological knowledge, or personal charm, or professional success. Nor is it ecstasies in prayer or extreme penances.

Rather, the identifying mark of a Christian is treating others - all others - the way God does, the way God treats us. God is kind and merciful "even to the ungrateful and the wicked." If we are his children, his followers, we will be too.

We will be quick to forgive, to make excuses for others, to avoid judging and condemning them. We will think well of others, speak well of them, and treat them like the children of God that they truly are.

But Jesus doesn't just tell us what we're supposed to do in life, he also tells us why.

We are created in God's image, and God is love; his very divine nature is all about self-giving. So, the more we develop our capacity for love, for authentic, self-forgetful love, the more we will mature into what God created us to be.

And just as a mature, healthy apple tree bears abundant fruit, so a mature, healthy human soul overflows with the spiritual fruits of profound joy, peace, and enthusiasm. This is what Jesus means when he says, "give, and gifts will be given to you".

If we are true Christians, treating all others as we would like them to treat us, as God has treated us, we will be truly happy.

Mother Theresa Lights a Lamp

Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta was someone who learned this lesson perfectly. Once she was staying with her community of sisters who were working with the Aborigines in Australia.

While she was there, she visited an elderly man who lived in total isolation, ignored by everyone. His home was disordered and dirty.

She told him, "Please let me clean your house, wash your clothes and make your bed." He answered, "I'm OK like this. Let it be." She said, "You will be still better if you allow me to do it."

He finally agreed. So, she was able to clean his house and wash his clothes. While she was cleaning, she discovered a beautiful lamp, covered with dust. It looked like it hadn't been used in years.

She said to the man, "Don't you light that lamp? Don't you ever use it?" He answered, "No. No one comes to see me. I have no need to light it. Who would I do it for?" Mother Theresa asked, "Would you light it every night if the sisters came?" He replied, "Of course." From that day on, the sisters committed themselves to visiting him every evening.

Mother Theresa left Australia. Two years passed. She had completely forgotten about that man. Then she received a message from him: "Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still."

That's what it means to be a true Christian: to give, to forgive, to bless, to stop judging, to stop condemning, to stop complaining, and to start lighting lamps... In other words, to be like Christ. And that's what brings happiness to our lives and to the world.

[story adapted from Voices of the Saints by Bert Ghezzi]

Emotional Damage Control

It is hard for us to be true to Christ's standard. One reason it's so hard is because our culture gives so much emphasis to emotions. Our society tells us that whenever we feel a strong emotion, we are supposed to act on it.

When you're angry, express yourself. When you're sad, let it flow. When you're in the mood for fun, go with it. If you don't, the modern psychologists tell us, you will "repress your inner self".

On this point, the modern psychologists are flat out wrong. Emotions are blind. They come and go without our permission, like the weather. If we let them drive our lives, we will never have stability. We will never grow up; we'll be like babies forever.

We need to govern our lives by the principles of our faith.These don't change.They are true and dependable.Following them gives us stability, wisdom, and maturity.

Emotions are like the wind at sea. They can help or hinder the boat's progress. Principles are like the deep ocean currents: they drive us towards our destination no matter the weather.

Here are two ways to work on governing our emotions, so we can better follow Christ's command to treat others - all others - as we would have them treat us:

1. Never make a decision in the midst of an emotional storm. Wait for your anger, sadness, or jubilation to calm down before you write that email, make that phone call, or decide what you are going to do. The storm will pass; you just have to be patient.
2. When the other person is experiencing an emotional storm, pull in your sails; don't let the storm become contagious - that's when hurricanes happen.

Let's ask Jesus to give us strength to govern our emotions, so that this week we can be better Christians, more authentic Christians, stable and constant in our kindness, patience, and generosity. That's what will make Jesus happy, it's what will make us happy, and it's what this world needs most.