on the other side of selfishness
"Nathan reported all these words and this entire vision to David." —2 Samuel 7:17
David, like all of us, was very selfish. We're that way from the moment of conception. We are naturally selfish. One day, a great miracle occurred in David's life: he had an unselfish thought. He thought of building a house for the Lord (2 Sm 7:2). Although David was not chosen by the Lord to do this, the Lord took this unusual moment of unselfishness to reveal to David an astounding prophecy. Through the prophet Nathan, the Lord told David that his house, kingdom, and throne would stand firm forever (2 Sm 7:16).
Sometimes, by the grace of God and in our new life through Baptism, we too have unselfish thoughts. Like David, we will also receive amazing revelations from God when we cross over to the other side of selfishness. In that land of unselfishness — so strange to us — we are no longer under the thick cloud of selfishness (see Is 60:2). On the other side of selfishness, the Lord shines and over us appears His glory (Is 60:2).
Come to Jesus; repent; deny yourself; cross over to the other side.
Prayer: Father, the life I live now is not my own. It is a life of faith in Jesus (Gal 2:20).
Promise: "Those sown on good soil are the ones who listen to the word, take it to heart, and yield at thirty- and sixty- and a hundredfold." —Mk 4:20
Praise: Thomas' family opposed his vocation and held him captive for two years. Thomas used this time to memorize much of the Bible.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, June 1, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 9, 1997