DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Paul writes to the Christians in Philippi …“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.“ – Philippians 2:1-4

From the very beginning of Christianity, humility and unselfish service has been at the heart of the Christian ethos.  Yet, throughout the generations that followed, in our past and in our present moment, a share of Christianity has forgotten or given mere lip-service to this essential aspect of the Christian quality of spirit.

Oh, we deny it, but our souls still often blush with the reality that we too often allow selfish ambition and self-centered glory to become intertwined with our devotion to Christ.  From the “prosperity gospel” to books emblazoned with our own portraits, we succumb to the temptation of selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-glorification.  Too many of us are attracted to be a part of the “bigger and brighter”.   Too many of us are attracted to more popular and trendier.  Too many of us are more in tune with “success” than with “humble devotion”.

Higher values of community, harmony, peace-making are made the lesser so that self-righteousness holier-than-thou, righter-than-thou, and zealotry might take center stage.  And when pride and arrogance enter into the soul of Christianity the very essence of the Christian ethos fades away.

Loved Ones, do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz