Give God 100%

by David Lins  |  09/04/2022  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

Wait a minute. Hold the phone. Stop the bus.

What is the blue sky is all this about Jesus instructing us to hate everyone (including our own lives) in this week’s Gospel reading?

I mean 90% of celebrities seem to suggest that Jesus was all about loving every person and supporting everything every person does or says.

Continuing the percentage theme, they are 50% correct. He was (and is) all about loving every person. But he has never been about approving of everyone’s “personally adjusted ten commandments in the light of their own truth.”

You might remember him embracing the woman at the well—where he finished with, “Go and sin no more.” Or the rich young man who he instructed to “leave it all behind.” And this brings us to all this hating Jesus is talking about.

He is not telling us to ignore the commandment about honoring our mother or father. Rather, he is talking about priorities. He MUST be #1. Everything—and yes, everyone— must come after him. In the same way he instructed us to pluck out our eyes or cut off our hands if they cause us to sin. He doesn’t want a bunch of Catholic pirates wandering around (wearing an eye patch and a hook—come on—stay with me). He wants to be #1. He doesn’t even want parts of our bodies to come between us and him. They were created to be holy temples of the Holy Spirit.

He hates to have anything or anyone come between you. And he wants you to feel the same way. But how?

Your time. Give it to him. “What do you have for me today? Remind me to pray often and to be attentive as to not miss an opportunity to be your Hands and Feet.”

Your talents. Use them for him. “Help me use the gifts you’ve given me for your glory. Guide me so I do not use the gifts for sin or my own prestige.”

Your treasure. Remember it is on loan. “Help my heart to be yours above all attachments. Help me to be generous with what you’ve entrusted to me for this period of time.”

In a nutshell? Give him 100%.

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