Daily reflection _ living truth and the values of society


LIVING TRUTH AND
THE VALUES OF SOCIETY
God has a purpose for each one of us. To discover it by living it out day by day is our very definition as a person. To be one's own self in faith until we find ourselves in God is true living!
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
Despite the pleading of his son, Jonathan, Saul was so consumed with bitter envy toward David that he continued in his plot to kill him. In today's reading from the Book of Samuel, we see that David has the opportunity to put Saul to death. He did not do so out of respect for Saul as his king and master, and the one whom the Lord anointed. It was an extraordinary act on David's part and reflects not only esteem for the King but for God from Whom the dignity of the king came.
In the Responsorial Psalm we pray, "Have mercy on me, God, have mercy on me, for in You I take refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I take refuge, till harm pass by" (Ps 57:2). God always sends His mercy and faithfulness upon us. He sees what we don't see and knows what we don't know. He knows us! God has a purpose for each one of us. To discover it by living it out day by day is our very definition as a person. To be one's own self in faith until we find ourselves in God is true living!
In baptism, we are anointed with sacred chrism, which "signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian, that is, one 'anointed' by the Holy Spirit, and incorporated into Christ Who is anointed priest, prophet, and king" (CCC 1241). We are called by baptism to love each other as brothers and sisters. But before we can really love people, we must respect them. We must first see the source of Christian dignity, which is God's free choice. All who are baptized are called by God just as surely as the Apostles who were mentioned in the Gospel today. This is not to say or judge that the unbaptized are excluded, for God wills that all humans be saved and ultimately come to the dignity that has been granted through baptism.
Just as Jesus called the Twelve for a mission, we too are called to share in the mission of the Church. Let us ask ourselves, "What is God's call for me in my life?" Jesus embarks on His mission, challenging people to take on the task of preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God and healing the sick by the power of His Kingdom. Notice that Jesus chose very ordinary people. They were non-professionals who had no wealth or position.
Today, the Church honors Saint Francis De Sales, Bishop and Doctor. He was elected bishop of Geneva and proved to be a true pastor to clergy and laity, educating them through writing and his acts of faith for all God's children. All of this so that they can come to know truth! Living the truth is a challenge as we see the "values" our society esteems. A well dressed person usually receives respect, but the poor often do not, especially those who are labeled as "bums" or "winos". A wealthy person usually receives respect, but not an alien, especially an illegal alien who cannot speak English. An influential person usually receives respect, but not the powerless or the defenseless, especially a child in the womb.
We are called to turn those values around. One might say that it was easy for David to respect Saul because Saul was a king. But, all the people we meet are either sharers in Christ's kingship or are called to be such. We must respect them before we can truly love them.
Are we living in the truth?