Where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. Sounds like something to avoid, doesn’t it? If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. If your foot causes you to sin…cut it off. Now, our hands and feet don’t operate independently, do they? We guide them precisely where we want them to go. And, if we guide our hands (our handiwork, our work), our feet (or our path in life), toward that which the world calls us to…the world will reward us for that. It will reward us with money, power, promotions, esteem of others. But that’s not what today’s readings call us to, is it?
I once knew a person who was so determined to control those who worked for him, he would systematically, personally, intentionally force people into situations at work he knew violated their personal principles or family values, and then, if they chose their principles over his direction, he would fire them.
“Whoever causes one of these who believe in me to sin, it would be better for that person if a great millstone were put around their neck, and they were thrown into the sea.”
And the world will help you justify these actions. This person I’m talking about had multiple buildings, companies, airplanes, money, power, esteem of others. The world will reward you if you point your hands, your feet, your words, in the direction that the world asks. At least…in the short-term. This gentleman died with no wife, after having had at least three, with all his loved ones at odds with one another.
Anybody have a smartphone in their pocket? Anybody ever hear of Steve Jobs? Steve and his partner formed Apple in 1976 with a clear goal of ‘changing the way people use computers in the world’. As Steve progressed on his journey, by at least one of those closest to him Steve was identified as showing little patience for anyone who disagreed with him, as having no tolerance for people who he did not consider to be “bright”’ enough.
Steve was noted to have traveled the halls of Apple with an entourage. People wanted to be close to him. Steve helped launch Pixar Animation Studios, and ultimately bought that company. Today, fully 450 patents are held in Steve Jobs’ name. He won the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was Named to Time Magazine’s “World’s 100 Most Influential People” five different years. By age 25 his net worth is reported to have been $250MM, and at his death, at the age of 56, it was $10.2 BN. At that time Steve was the 110th richest person in the world.
If you point your hands, your work, your feet, your heart on the path to which the world calls you, there’s a good chance the world will reward you…In the short-term.
On Steve’s death bed, he said to the world: “I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes my life is the epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy.” “At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.”
“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose…himself?”
St. Martha family, I tell young people early in their careers all the time: We are in this world for a very short time. And in my career, along with most of us I think, I have more waking hours at work than I have at home with my family – . We are therefore, called to make the most positive impact we can within our circle of influence – the lives/people with whom we are blessed to interact. And if we are in a position in life where we have the ability to influence the lives of others – and we all are to one extent or another, we are called to use our hands, feet, words to create that positive influence: to bring Christ to others, and intrinsically bring others to Christ.
Sometimes, that involves difficult decisions, especially when that is not necessarily the path the world rewards.
When I knew, I was called to the deaconate, Audrey and I had some of those difficult decisions to make. And then, to complicate things even more, when we started into formation, they told us…”this process will change you”. And I remember very distinctly that we looked at each other and thought, well that might be good for all of these other people, but we don’t need to change. Sisters and brothers, change is scary! Especially when it takes you away from what the world calls you to do. And what the world calls you to is definitely not ministry! But, I remember oh so well, the point during formation when I realized that we were being changed, that I was being “formed”. That’s why they call it “formation”. And how we could not have understood the difference before it started to happen. It changed everything, and neither of us would go back for anything.
Are you being called to change what you’re doing with your hands…your “path”…your life in the world? Called to change in order to bring Christ to the world?
Now, I’m not proposing that everyone is called to ordination. But regardless of whether we’re 16 or 96, whether we’re in middle school, middle age, or the middle of retirement; we ALL have hands, feet, hearts, and words. Are they effecting the change in what scripture calls “ones such as these” – our circle of influence, to follow Christ? Or, are we conforming that which the world rewards? What difficult decisions are you called to make in your life?