Into the Unknown we all shall enter

How ominous it must be for many who are not aware of what awaits them in eternity. For those of us who have a close connection with the Son of God there is little to be afraid of. Our expectations appear to be an apparent approval for our belief in God and his promise of acceptance for our faith. What we must have is an understanding that it isn’t the accumulation of what we have done as in making a ledger of how much we’ve done as a bank account balance that matters.

It can become a mishap thinking that our giving money or marking the times we helped someone in order to gain points for God to notice us is not the way to go. One of the theses that Martin Luther was so upset with was the idea that the amount of money given to the Church in order to gain dispensation from time spent in purgatory did have a lot of premise. We cannot purchase blessings or grace by becoming someone who gets more from our wealth in monetary giving. God looks to our heart and what we expend through love and forgiveness for anyone who wrongs us rather than making certain we see our name on a list of money givers to ensure our bank account is noticed by God.

To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the nothingness of the creature” who would not exist but for God. To adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself, as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name. The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world. (CCC 2097).

Looking at Mary’s Magnificat the one pronouncement that should become a warning to money givers in order to gain God’s approval is; “He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” (Lk 1: 51 - 55).

Throughout the bible one can read how often and with generous compassion the Lord speaks of the poor and the need to adhere to their needs. But nowhere does he mention that giving to the poor is the only way to heaven. Helping the poor is essential but using that as a method to gain God’s attention without giving worship to God because of his love for what we have is a mistake. Giving to those who are in dire need is a requirement by God, but doing so just to gain attention because we have so much is a slander on the grace of Almighty God.

Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more. (Lk 12: 48). But discretion is necessary to use it wisely by not establishing a bank account to impress God.

Ralph B. Hathaway