Beatitude

Top Ten Reasons to Choose Faith in 2010

1.    Coming to terms with the transient and shallow nature of wealth and notoriety is the gift of our times and against the backdrop of such bad news, the good news of faith can appear as the treasure that it is.

2.    While the best fruit of science provides constructive solutions for humankind, there are parts of being human that are addressed only by the mysteries of faith.

3.    Coming to know the depths of your soul can feel like a dark tunnel unless there is an open passage for God’s light to shine in.

4.    On a balance being a part of a faith community is the best way to share a connection with something greater than ourselves.

5.    Faithing is a whole lot more creative than arguing; the angers and frustrations we often succumb to in life are soothed and transformed by the oils of faith’s blessing.

6.    Hoping for God’s best is a lot better then despairing over the worst.

7.    The caring service that faith inspires brings healing to the world.

8.    The humility that faith demands is surprisingly refreshing: We discover that we’re just like everyone else and God is most wonderfully… big.

9.    Faith ultimately brings us back to our source and it’s nice to be home when you realize that the home of faith is full of open arms, mercy and laughter.

10.                      Alongside ageing, and all other effects of entropy, faith is one of those things that get better with time.

 

Should She Give Everything?

We can encounter the curious and challenging story of the “widow’s mites” in Mark 12:38-44 on four levels. The first level is what the story tells us about how the scribes took advantage of those they could persuade, like poor widows. Evidently by pressuring them to give disproportionately to the treasury, they “devoured widow’s houses.” What kind of a religious-political system would cause the poor to get poorer and the rich to get richer?

The second level is what the story tells us about the poor widow. Being a widow or widower is a tough journey in itself. But the story tells of an unusually generous, yet poor, woman. Her generous giving is a hint of what Jesus is about to do as he gives everything in love on the cross. What does it mean to consider that all that you have and all that you are belongs to God?

The third level is what the story tells us about “rich people.” In particular—to avoid any stereotyping—people who give only out of the surplus of their wealth, rather than considering the holy nature of gifts to the church. What does it mean to give as a way of expressing your faith and devotion to God?

The Fourth level is to let the story challenge you. Somewhere in the space between giving your last two pennies and only giving what is left over when you’ve spent your budget is a way to give holy and generous gifts. What is that place for you?