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Most of us are willing to loan something of ours to a friend and we usually have reasonable hope that it will be returned. Sometimes we may have lent something to an individual, especially a book, which was never returned. For a much broader perspective of loaning, we can think about God as having lent us our lives, and has the desire that, no matter how much used and damaged, we will return it with some of the love with which the loan was made.
We are not books that have been written by someone but are unique people who compose the story of our lives each day as we decide how to respond to circumstances, people, and inspirations that affect us, and by the thoughts and actions that we initiate. God does not loan us this life that is temporary intending to receive it back to put on a shelf, but to write our story of love that will last through our inevitable death to being fulfilled eternally in God, who is Love. We will then be together will all those who have returned in love to God and entered the communion of saints.
The season of Lent is about taking some practical means of deepening our desire and intention to match God’s, and to return the life we have been lent in as good a condition of love as we are able. Like any of the 4 seasons of earth, the time of Lent has its own characteristics that are common enough to all people everywhere that we can talk about them, but these seasons differ widely from year to year and from place to place. Unlike typical conditions of the earth’s seasons which we can only observe and take into account, we are the main determinants of how Lent will help us to grow. Rather than wait for sunshine or rain, we can decide not only what we will do but also choose our purpose and attitude in response to the ideals, practices, and graces that comprise Lent.
One of the most significant Scriptural quotes from Jesus that appears frequently in this faith-season is “Repent, the Kingdom of God is near.” Although “repent” and “kingdom” may not be in our every-day language, and rarely appear in the media, they have connotations that are very helpful for those of us who are touched by grace to desire what God desires in terms of returning love with love.
When we give “repent” its rightful meaning of “look again,” we are strongly encouraged to read the Gospel stories of Jesus as speaking truths to us. When we think of the “kingdom” that is God’s, we look in faith on the Communion of all who are with God, loving us in God, thereby deepening our own desire to return to God the life that was lovingly lent to us.
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When we think of second place, we might easily be dismissive, knowing that by comparison, first place would be higher. The expression “second rate” is even more dismissive, concentrating only on the negative aspect of whatever is being considered. And if we compare things with one another such as actions, events, physical objects, or even thoughts and ideas, there can only be one that is first, all others being second to it and therefore judged to be of less value than whatever is designated as first.
If we reflect carefully on how this “second place” mentality affects us, we might enter a more fulfilling way of living not only in company with others, but more peacefully within our own minds and hearts. Many Olympic silver and bronze medalists rightfully rejoice in their achievements instead of thinking about not being first. So can we, with practically everything we do and say in a typical day. Comparisons of measure are useful, but the true value of all that we do and say is ultimately incomparable before God, and before all others as well. We live in a mysterious yet ordinary reality where at one level comparisons are valid and at another they are not, and at the same time. We can judge behavior, objects, and concepts as being better than or of less value than others’ as we do with the performance of medalist winners, without making a judgment about the value of the persons.
Our relationship with God as God desires it depends upon our acceptance of not comparing ourselves with anyone else: not with one of the Saints or prophets, or any of the greats of history, but as a unique creation who will never be the same as anyone else. When we acknowledge God’s infinity and love that are expressed in all creation, we find our incomparability. And, if we reflect on what this means, what follows is great peace of heart, and freedom to be who we are. More than mere appreciation for our uniqueness we find within us a movement and a direction towards becoming more, even better than before, with continual growth.
Frequently taking a second look at how God sees and regards us will lead us away from comparing ourselves with others, and we will become much less concerned about whatever judgements they might make about us. We know, as no one else other than God, our weaknesses and failures in trying to live wholly according to our beliefs, ideals, and responsibilities. Yet whenever we pause to look at God looking at us, all we ever see is love.
Accepting this love is the one force that moves us beyond thinking about how we might be compared with others, so that we focus our energies on loving as we are loved.
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We could be weak physically or strong; give a weak excuse or a strong one for not fulfilling an agreement or we could make a batch of weak lemonade or a strong one. None of these examples come close to the depth of the learning that St. Paul received about being made strong precisely in his weakness. The perspective of strength in weakness is simple in concept but not achievable through mere thought or study, or by willing it. Rather, our weakness is changed from a potential liability to an advantage for us and for others, by direct action of the Spirit of God within our hearts.
Even though we do not accomplish this ourselves, our “yes” is just as important for our cooperative movement with God as was Mary of Nazareth’s when she received the announcement about becoming the mother of Jesus. We might be aware of some of our weaknesses but have no way of knowing ahead of time how God will complement the little we have with effectiveness for good that is far more than whatever we could imagine. We do have assurance though, that through trust in God we will be able to achieve whatever is ours to do.
If we were only physical material beings, the limit of our individual strengths would be the measure of what we could do in whatever field of work, play, creation, thought, interactions, or endeavor we might be led to choose. However, we are people of spirit, with freedom to trust and believe, to hope and to love. Whatever we can think, imagine, say, or do, are not just here and now happenings of little consequence, but are open to immeasurable value and effects for good that transcend our weaknesses. The strength in our weaknesses arises in how we relate with inspirations and graces offered to us and the exercise of our gifts of faith, hope, and love. Only God can see the extent of the effects of our cooperation with, and participation in, the movement of all creation towards the fulfillment of our existence in ultimate union with God.
The way we can see how our weaknesses are turned into strengths is through reflection upon our daily experiences. We might recall our hesitancy at some time or reluctance to write a note, take the initiative, try something we have not done before, and yet we went ahead, “obeying” the gentle but firm movement within our hearts to act as we did. The more we see and acknowledge this kind of activity within us, the more our confidence will grow in trusting these graced impulses of guidance. Rather than relying primarily on our abilities and afterwards feeling depleted, we let ourselves be the weaker partner in a cooperative effort that is far stronger in good effects than we could possibly succeed in doing on our own.
God delights in generating strength for good through our weaknesses.