Stone Tablets to Human Hearts

We live in a world of material possessions and values. Our priorities have been redefined by the stuff we gather and own in life. Ones worth is now measured by the value of the car, the home, the smart phones, the apps for those phones and the social networks he or she is member of.

Are we unique to this behavior? Not at all.  When did this all begin? From the day of creation. It has nothing to do with us here in America. This is human nature, namely to amass wealth and worth from the things we own.

I am sure you all read the sweatbox tragedy of yesterday (10/09/2009) in Sedona, AZ. It is about gathering wealth and all that is to posses here on earth by channeling the energies of the angels, the earth and all the powers of the universe. Of course all of it comes with a touch of spirituality that misleads people to believe it is about spiritual abundance.

People of this world, for some reason or another, mix up spiritual abundance with material wealth, indulgence, and financial security.

Because we are so prone to fall prey into such scams about life, and definitions for life, the Lord shows us what true discipleship means and costs. To many Christian's in the world it is about Ten Commandments. It helps them shift their responsibility of life to the tablet of the mountain written for a tribal people Before Christ. Don't get me wrong. They are absolutely meaningful and truthful and surely prescribed and basic to spiritual living.

But then comes Christ with a simplified version of the Commandments for a new generation summarizing them into two: 1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul and your mind and 2) love your neighbor as yourself, which gave the responsibility for living true spiritual life – a movement from stone tablets to human hearts – into the hands of people.

If you have lived the 10 commandments, great and wonderful. Now take step two, is what the Lord says. Let go of that which nails you down to living the commandments without fear, the wealth of this world and all that it holds you down. 

I read somewhere. "Fear of death increases in exact proportion to increase in wealth."

I like what Princes Diana had to say. "They say it is better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable, but how about a compromise like moderately rich and just moody?"

When we are rich we think we possess a lot. But in reality we are possessed by a lot of things.

Jesus is telling the young man that wealth is an illusion for the void that we experience in our hearts without God. Wealth that belongs to God and that we are unable to part with is what owns us and subdues us eventually.

We are crippled by what we own and we are liberated by what we let go.

We all sometime or another suffer from Success Syndrome. Success Syndrome is that which desires more power, more money and more attention to make us happier in life. What is needed to be cured of it? Simply have a deep commitment that goes beyond writing a check.

This month we celebrate the feast of St. Francis, a man who walked naked when all the possessions and wealth of the world invited him to do otherwise and be nailed down to the earth beneath his feet.

I heard this story of a man who was an expert in diamonds. He was traveling in a plane and he happened to sit next to a lady who was wearing a beautiful and large diamond. After a few minutes of curiosity filled silence he asked her, I can't but notice the beautiful and big diamond you have on your fingers. May I ask what is it called? Surely the lady answered. It is called "Klopman Diamond", one of the largest in the world. There is a curse that comes with it though" The man became very curious and asked her what it was and she said, "Mr. Klopman".

I hope none of us have Mr. Koapmans around our neck to drown us in this world.

Let us walk away naked from the possessions of this world to the riches of Christ given in each other- Thus living the commandments.