How trustworthy are you in your spiritual life? Do you live each day as if God is right there in front of you? - Daily Reflections November 8,2014

BEING TRUSTWORTHY IS BEING FAITHFUL

 

Once, in a singing contest, a judge known to have progressed gradually from an unknown performer to a revered one, gave this advice to the participants:  “If you want to excel, to be treated seriously, and to advance considerably in your singing career, do not treat practices as mere practice. Always sing at performance level. That is, practice as if you are already competing!” It is the same with spiritual life — either we are trustworthy or not. It will show in everything we do and say. We cannot row between two rivers. Something has to give. We need to choose.

       In teaching trustworthiness, Jesus does not distinguish between great or small, dishonest or true, personal or neighbor’s. Our attitude to one reflects our attitude to the other. We sometimes have a tendency to take for granted small things and simple situations, but the Lord Jesus reminds us in the Parable of the Dishonest Steward that everything must be considered with great appreciation and sincere treatment. For Him, even practices or preliminaries reflect the actual and main events.

      In the last part of the Gospel today, Jesus presented the true dilemma: Do we serve God or mammon? Do we obey God or another? Do we pledge allegiance to our Creator or a fellow creature? The choice is clear. But do we make that clear choice? This is not just a matter of saying or thinking about the choice. This is about living the choice. For Jesus, if we really and truly choose the Lord, it should be true every time, everywhere and to everyone. Never will it be compromised. Discipleship is not seasonal and relative. It is full-time and absolute.

       Thus, being trustworthy is actually being faithful. When we essentially and obediently manage the gifts that God has bestowed on us according to His purpose, we are trustworthy. Doing so completely and summarily removes, destroys and eliminates the participation of the evil one. Doing so also establishes, strengthens and affirms our union with God. We are faithful. We are disciples. We are God’s children. Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How trustworthy are you in your spiritual life? Do you live each day as if God is right there in front of you?

 

Lord Jesus, help me to be completely united with You — in my thoughts, in my words, and in my deeds.