Do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing
Yesterday in the first reading Paul told the Philippians to have the same mind as Jesus Christ who emptied himself of his divinity to assume the condition of a slave. If anyone had any difficulty understanding how we can imitate Jesus by emptying ourselves, Jesus gives the answer in today’s gospel. He says: “If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple... none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions”.
That is frightening! We can exclaim with the words of Peter, “in that case, who of us can be saved?” However, we must realize, that this self-emptying is also the gift of God. We on our part have only to cooperate and receive the gift. Paul says in the first reading: “...it is God, for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you...”
Paul then goes on to tell us how we embrace this gift of God: “...Do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing and then you will be innocent and genuine, perfect children of God among a deceitful and underhand brood, and you will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life...”
The courage to surrender ourselves totally to God starts by the daily embrace of our duties “without complaining or arguing”, and that edifies those around us in ways much more eloquent than words, so that we shine among them like bright stars, offering them the word of life. I should remember that each time I am inclined to complaint or argument.
