Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter

The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Men, why are you doing this?  We are of the same nature as you, human beings.  We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.”

It is important for us to remember that all the good we do is from God. We are not the source, center, or summit of Goodness, God is. As people of faith, we can be tempted to feel like we are better than others and lord it over those whom we see as unfaithful. However, God does not call us to become modern day Pharisees. Instead, He calls us to do His Will with humble hearts, without expectation of return or seeking worldly glory or consolations. There may be some whom we help who might want to treat us like saviors, but there is only One Savior and he is Jesus Christ. Every good we do is an imitation of God and a fulfillment of the vocation to love that God has given all of us. Though we are called to be saints, we should remember that we are all human. We all have strengths and weaknesses and should not seek to make ourselves into false idols. We are called to sanctity, not to proclaim ourselves as good, but to proclaim God’s Good News... that all of us have a chance to be holy if we will confess our sins, amend our lives, and love God and neighbor with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Have we made ourselves into false idols through the sins of pride and self-righteousness? Do we give all the glory for our good deeds and successes to God or claim it for ourselves? How can we become more humble servants of God, magnifying Him and not ourselves?

O Lord, remind us that part of becoming saints is learning to be humble of heart.

Amen.