Perfection

“Yahweh looked upon it and saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:7).

The Garden of Eden (Hieronymus Bosch)

I think that most of life is about balance.  If I do something and I am unable to focus my attention, then I cannot balance my time and instead of making a positive impact, I am stuck with a negative one.

When I think about my relationship with the world, I believe that all of my sinfulness comes from a lack of balance.  You see, there is nothing wrong with money or wealth.  Christ Himself was a friend of the wealthy and the poor alike.  Christ, Himself accepted the fine oils and offerings of people – like the woman who anointed Him prior to His death…  In fact, He praised her for her efforts and berated those who would criticise her for spending such a vast sum on Him…

“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume...  Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.  For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have Me.’” (John 12:3-8).

You see, Christ was very passionate about this balance.  He knew that there should be some things allocated to God and others to the world.  And this was not the first time He was asked to adjudicate on such a distinction…  ^“Jesus said to them, ‘Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were utterly amazed at Him.” (Mark 12:17).

And yet, although it may look like God only allocates part of things to Him and others elsewhere, He is certainly not neglecting the world…  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

God loves the world passionately.  He loves it so passionately, that He has saved it over and again.  He saved it from the fall of Humankind.  He saved it from the flood of Noah.  He continues to save us from destruction – through World Wars and nuclear weapons…

God is passionate about the world and knows that it is good.  And we are told this because…  “Yahweh looked upon it and saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:7). It is my sinfulness and my weakness that corrupts the world.

In “Conversations” at 114, Saint Josemaria explained that we must be able to materialise our spirituality in the World because we must be able to express – passionately – the Glory of God in the everyday.

And I have been thinking about this today as I have been considering my balance in the world.  And it occurs to me that I should be able to see the world as it was made – GOOD – good enough for God to send His only Son to redeem it…

How awesome is my Lord and God, King of the Universe…  How holy is His Name – He who made the heavens and the earth and loves them all – passionately – for my sake!

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.