22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
Our Lady of Grace
August 31, 2008
Focus: How to become divine
Function: To show through use of a story how losing ourselves in God we become our real selves
Form: Story as analog
How to Become Divine
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato
The Dandelion, Rabbit, Hunter and God
Once upon a time, a dandelion whispered to the nutrients in its soil: “How would you like to become a dandelion?”
“You need only allow yourself to be dissolved in the earth’s water; and I will draw you up through my roots.
“Afterward you will be able to grow and flower and brighten the world.” The nutrients said: “Okay.”
Next morning, a rabbit hopped by and, in a fit of generosity, said to the dandelion: “How would you like to become a rabbit?
“You would have to let me chew you up and swallow you, and you would lose your pretty petals. It would hurt at first, but afterward you would be able to hop around and wiggle your ears.”
Not being rooted in one place sounded good, so the dandelion allowed itself to be munched and swallowed to become a rabbit.
The next day, a hunter spotted the rabbit, and being in a friendly mood, asked: “How would you like to become a human? Of course, you must let yourself be shot, skinned, stewed and eaten.
“That would naturally be rather painful, but think of what you’d gain. You’d be able to think, laugh, cry, get 50 credit cards and appear on Oprah.”
The rabbit was scared, but who could pass up Oprah? So, he gave up the carefree life of a rabbit and became a human being.
Years later, God noticed this human going about his everyday human way and feeling very fatherly, said: “Hey! How would you like to become a super-human?”
Becoming Divine
That is the question God asks each human being who comes into this world.
And in case we don’t know what is involved, his son, Jesus, spelled it out: “You have to lose your soul to find it.”
Coaches and athletes of last week’s Olympics translate that as: “No pain; no gain.” Psychologists say we must, “lose our false self to find our true self,” and spiritual writers talk about the, “dark night before the dawn and the cross blossoming into resurrection.”
What is it that we actually must lose and what do we actually gain? Well, the good news is that we don’t lose anything essential to our humanity.
We don’t lose anything that is good within us. All we really lose is our inhumanity, our bad self.
What Do We Lose?
Thus we must lose our self-centeredness, which isolates us from other good people.
We must lose our prejudices, which blind us to the truth.
We must lose our lust, which smears and blears our love.
We must lose our insecurity, which restrains us form brave deeds.
We must lose our obsession with money that prevents us from being magnanimous.
We must lose our fear, which strangles our hope.
We must lose our penchant for autonomy, which always leads us into some servitude.
What Do We Gain?
To the degree that we succeed, we enlarge our humanity. And we don’t have to get there all at once. Step by step is normal.
Nor do we have to advance in every department of life. Actually, most saints are unbalance, imperfect, unfinished human beings.
The best part is that in fulfilling our humanity, we simultaneously become divine. We actually participate in divine life.
We become intimate with God, breathe the same pungent air, think the same heavenly thoughts, and love the same Godly way.
We engage in conversation with Father, Son and Spirit.
Conclusion
And here is the really best part. In losing our lives in God, we don’t really lose at all.
We are not sucked through divine roots or chewed up as heavenly nectar. We are not absorbed by God.
No, we retain our own self. In fact, only with God can we be our real self.
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