the giving of power and the power of giving
"He made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions." —Psalm 105:21
Jesus commands us: "Cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous, expel demons" (Mt 10:8). To do these awesome deeds, we need God's power. God's power comes to us when we:
- give freely (Mt 10:8). We receive in the measure we give and more besides (Mk 4:24).
- give up securities such as gold, silver, copper, baggage, wardrobe, and means of transportation (see Mt 10:9-10).
- give up our prized possessions. For example, Jacob was very possessive of his youngest son, Benjamin. It took a severe famine before Jacob would part with Benjamin even for a short time. Jacob thought he would die if anything bad ever happened to Benjamin (see Gn 44:22, 29).
If we want God's power perfected in our lives (2 Cor 12:9), we must give and give up, that is, sacrifice. We may even be called to imitate the crucified Jesus by giving up our prized possessions, even our lives. Who or what is the Benjamin in your life? Is the Lord calling you to give up this Benjamin? In love, by His grace, give as God wills. Let His full power flow through you.
Prayer: Father, do in me what You must in order to do through me what You will.
Promise: "But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you." —Gn 45:5
Praise: Even though tired from a day of work, Robert takes time to visit Jesus in the Eucharist and feels the great blessing of His quiet presence.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 29, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 31, 2002