People often speak about being rewarded for the good deeds that they do. I know that there is nothing wrong with that kind of thinking, since the bible, and other religious texts are full of this concept; but as far back as I can remember, this kind of thinking, at least consciously has not been a central focus for me.
Religious literature is full of descriptions of the heavenly city, streets of gold, walls that surround the city made up of precious stones etc. Well that is not a reward, since gold and precious stones in this metaphor are so common that they are used as building material; common as bricks. Everything is reversed, what we fight and kill for, and lust after are in the end worthless, trinkets nothing more, something to be walked on, dirt, useless. So when we think about some kind of reward, just what is it?
Jesus talks about receiving back what was given up; in the way of community and family; not in beautiful “things”. We are to seek love, and the reward is to constantly grow in our ability to love and embrace others. The reward is to see all whom we meet as our brothers and sisters, to truly see others as other selves; or as Christ stated; “whatever you do to the least, you do unto me”.
To have an expanded heart, does save the one with that kind of capacity to love, from a great deal of suffering. Envy, resentment, contempt, using others (lust), with the fruit that generates, is short circuited, at least in its most destructive outcomes. Isolation, separation from others is a great source of suffering that is often considered so much a part of life, that it is not even addressed, it is just life.
We all want peace, but are we willing to do what is necessary, and is it even possible? I think it is, but it is a long way off. Political or social theory or government interference will not do it, but only by allowing love to grow in our hearts will this b possible. Love is not sentiment, but a true, penetrating understanding of reality, and our relationship with others. People have to learn to trust their intuition on this, and not always listen to religious or political leaders, who try to make “something other” out of our neighbors.
In Luke (6:20-49) we have the Sermon on the Plain, which comes in two parts: the woes and the blessings. The first part tells speaks of the blessings:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man”.
The second part deals with what happens when we deny these blessings and run from them. The blessings are a reversal in the way mankind often looks at how the world works.
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets”.
When Jesus stated in Matthew 11:30 that “My yoke is easy and my burden light”, he was speaking the truth. For the suffering that comes from following the Lord leads to deeper healing and life and blessing, though it can seem heavy when going through the process of our lives in seeking to being loving disciples.
However the crosses we manufacture for ourselves in seeking the gods of riches and power without compassion or love for others, are in fact much heavier and death dealing even though they promise peace and contentment…which can be easily lost in the twinkling of an eye, even if they are procured for a time.
When Jesus says that we must take up or cross and follow him, he was not asking us to seek out suffering, but to embrace life in faith and to not seek to run from its challenges and the suffering that implies. St. Paul says it all in Galatians 2:20:
” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me:and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”.
We are all pilgrims and life demands that as we move on we leave behind all that is no longer needed, or we outgrow, or we lose through aging. It is often a desert experience, just putting one foot in front of the other, yet we are never alone, for the Risen Lord is with us.
“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” (Deuteronomy 30:15-16).
Br. Mark Dohle, OCSO
Holy Spirit Monastery
