Gratuitousness

THIS is the law that should govern and characterize our

whole life. We are meant for loving which, in concrete terms, is a

matter of serving others. If that loving is authentic, that is,

inspired by God’s love, then it shown in serving others wholeheartedly

without counting the cost nor expecting any return. It’s completely

done for free.

            This truth about ourselves is amply dramatized in that

lesson Christ gave regarding the unprofitable servant. (cfr Lk

17,7-10) “When you have done all you have been commanded,” Christ

said, “say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what we were

obliged to do.’”

            Loving and serving cannot and should not be quantified in

terms of cost and reward. It is above all these considerations. It’s a

purely spiritual operation that should not be spoiled by giving it

some material and temporal value. It’s where we can approximate, keep

and build up that dignity of being the image and likeness of God and

adopted children of his. It’s how we become God-like.

            As man, we of course have our material and temporal needs.

These should be attended to as well. We are body and soul, material

and spiritual, and both dimensions have their distinctive requirements

that have to be met as best as we could.

            At least, in our earthly life, these two dimensions and

components of our being are inseparable. One cannot be without the

other. Just the same, we should not confuse them. We have to abidingly

acknowledge their difference and learn how to handle this condition

properly.

            Of these two components, the spiritual aspect has pride of

place, since as Christ said: “It is the Spirit that gives life. The

flesh counts for nothing.” (Jn 6,63) In other words, our material and

temporal dimension would have no value unless properly inspired by the

Spirit who together with giving us life also inspires us to love, to

give ourselves freely to others.

            Remember what St. Paul said. “If I give all I possess to

the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do

not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Cor 13,3) Christ himself said:

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his

own soul?” (Mk 8,36)

            It’s this Spirit-inspired loving that makes serving and

self-giving an affair where we gain and receive more the more we give

ourselves to others. These are what Christ said in this regard:

            “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,

pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into

your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

(Lk 6,38) And, “Freely you have received, freely give.” (Mt 10,8)

            This is how God serves and gives himself to us, with

complete gratuitousness. He even goes all the way of still loving and

serving us even if we do not reciprocate his love properly. This is

how we should serve and give ourselves to the others also.

            This will require a deep sense of humility and utter

detachment from earthly things, which does not mean that we have no

need for earthly things. Our need for earthly things will be fully

satisfied if we give ourselves first to God, for as Christ said:

            “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and

all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt 6,33)