Give unto God what is God's

Give unto God what is God's 

Eileen Renders

   This subject is a topic we have all heard many times before, yet I want to touch upon it again. We come into this world with obligations and responsibilities and duties required to respect and serve our country, and our families. We must work, pay our taxes, and secure a future for our children. Most of us work for owning a home, which is becoming more and more difficult with the inflation and the cost of putting food on the table each day.

   We are a determined people and many of us reach a status of celebrity, or wealth in our endeavors, and in spite of the challenges, some of us become wealthy. Sadly, when those high achievers reach their status quo, it often negatively affects one’s personality. You may have heard these words, as I too have heard people saying of the homeless, or mentally ill; “Let them get a job, I am not putting money in their basket so they can go buy drugs.” The idea that these poor people are dehumanized for having a mental disorder, and are humiliated is more than disturbing.

   Giving unto the poor, the hungry, or the homeless is much like giving unto God. How can we forget what Jesus told us? Matthew 25:40 Jesus said; “Whatever you do to one of these, My brethren, you do it unto Me.”

   Riches cannot extend one’s lifetime, nor do they open the Gates to Heaven for any of us. It cannot prevent suffering and can often create a false sense of security.

   Realizing that life is ‘terminal” for all of us, it is detrimental to attaining a home with Christ in the hereafter of our earthly lives. And we all as Catholics know that God is all loving, compassionate, forgiving, and merciful. We are here on this earth that becomes much like a “Testing ground” before the Last Judgement.

   Acquiring great power and wealth is not a salute to that individual as often it is timing, or someone assisting that individual to succeed. Life is not about who we are, or who we used to be, but it is about who we are becoming!

   We must strive not to allow Satan to tempt us into believing we are special, or better than others, filled with pride and devoid of humility and mercy. God has asked each one of us to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, visit the sick shelter the homeless.

   Pray for God’s divine intervention in us. It is not all about health, remaining painless and happy. Life is more about learning to carry our Cross, be merciful, be forgiving, and refrain from becoming selfish. Thus, that old saying; “You can’t take it with you when you go.”