The disciples of Jesus compiled their teachings for the Church into a document that is now called The Didache. It's a beautiful work that resembles the Sermon on the Mount in large part while also consisting of liturgical instructions. As I was reading this document once again tonight I could help but meditate upon a short teaching.
"If any man seizes what is yours, do not demand it back, for you cannot anyway. Give to everyone who asks of you and never demand a return, for it is the Father’s will that all should share the gifts we have received."
Jesus, of course, said something quite similar in his teachings. He stated, "Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you" (Matthew 5:42). Luke 6:30 records a near identical teaching, "Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back."
These are pretty bold teachings in our society. We tend to think we are entitled to what we have earned or purchased. We tend to think we alone own what is in our current possession. We are more often concerned with our rights than with our gifts. This is a problem in my eyes.
When we focus too much on rights and worldly justice ("what's mine is mine") then we lose focus of the grace of God. God has gifted us everything we have so that it may be shared with others. He has commanded us to not be the type of people who demand back what is taken from us. This seems a strange and even unjust teaching to some but to those who recognize that all is gift this makes perfect sense.
Many of us need to repent when it comes to our attitudes towards our belongings. too many of us too often are convinced that we are entitled to what we have when we aren't. We forget that ALL is gift and grace from God. If he has rewarded us then we should enjoy the reward whilst we can. f that reward should be taken then we bless those who take from us and do not demand that they return what was once ours, for as the disciples say, we cannot do so anyway.We were meant to share our gifts, and if allowing thieves to keep their booty is a way we can share then we must allow them their spoils with a loving heart.
When I read these words I believe the challenge for many of us is to change our view on our belongings. It is a reminder that we do better to embrace the philosophy of gifts rather than of rights. For Americans this can be a difficult practice but it is a necessary one if we are to love others well.
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Comments (4)
The Declaration of Independence, the founding document of the United States of America says flat out that human rights come from God.
So when an American contemplates human rights his thoughts should go to God in some way or another.
The rights that God endows to men are self-evident, says the Declaration and among them are the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
According to both Natural Law and Gospel teachings, man is born in a state of liberty. That is, he may not be ruled over by other men without his consent or have his property taken from him without his consent. And man may do whatever is necessary to protect and preserve his liberty and property.
In his Thanksgiving Proclamation, George Washington said that it is "the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour."
What this means is that we have gifts because we have rights. Without our rights we are enslaved and impoverished completely so that life becomes a living hell of bone grinding poverty not one of liberty, prosperity, happiness and charity.
It's never yours unless it was given away.
Amen to this! This is one of the harder teachings of Christ to follow, right up there with "love your enemy", which actually goes hand-in-hand with this teaching, I believe. Unfortunately we do live in a materialistic society where "mine is mine", as you said. The problem is most definitely in the outlook.
I believe it's the perception that needs to be altered so that the actions in accordance with this corrected perception will follow.
I tried to recommend but it wouldn't take. I'll try later on another computer.