By reaching its goal of $3 million, this year’s Archdiocesan Development Fund Appeal will cover close to 40 percent of the general operating budget of the Archdiocese. However, this annual appeal is not about giving to reach a goal. It is not about giving only from our excess treasures or to be able to say we gave. No, it is about responding to God’s love for us and His gifts to us. It is an expression of our love for God. You can’t give it if you don’t accept it — God’s love! Our ability to love flows to us from God’s love through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We have it in us — a glorious gift from God. Why is it then, that we find it so difficult to accept this great gift by opening our heart and trusting God? Accept the reality that our life is better with it than without — with God in our lives and not a life without Him! We say we love God. But what is the depth of our realization about the true meaning of and the feelings associated with the emotion of our love for God? PRIDE. Maybe our pride makes it difficult a pride that generates jealousy because of what others have and what we don't have? The many bible stories of the talents given to servants comes to mind here. FEAR Maybe our fear makes it difficult to accept God's love. Fear that God will not be there in times of our need. Fear that our life will be difficult, so we have to take care of ourselves, do things by ourselves. Fear that accepting His love will cause a change in our lifestyle - a new set of wants and needs - different friends. The list could be long. A fear of the challenge itself to make this change. A fear that we cannot live the best of two worlds - we cannot serve both God and the world of secularism. Fear of pain and suffering and sacrifice. WORRY Maybe we are so filled with worry and concern for everything about our life and family that there is no time or room in our life for God. Giving to Church on Sunday and saying a few prayers now and then is about the extent of the room and time we give to God, much less give God of ourselves. Maybe we worry more about what we don't have instead of enjoying what our true blessings really are. All of these self-imposed restrictions/limitations/doubts will burn up/melt away/be destroyed then disappear through the burning fire that is God's love. Don't we all want to be happy and to find joy and fulfillment in our lives? God wants us to be happy. God created us in order to make us eternally happy. The real path to experience these desires is through the acceptance of God's "Burning Love", making time and room in our lives for God, -- a process that will not happen immediately but over time and with effort we will begin to realize the presence of God's love for us, in us and around us. His love has always been there and will never diminish or be withdrawn. Greater realization of His love and His presence in our lives will deepen the meaning of our love for Him in return. Our love will become more than just words; there will be emotions akin to the loves we have and had and shared in our life. Once we accept and understand these new feelings of true love for God and His love for us, we develop a desire to and real interest in sharing His love with others by returning His love, through His gifts to us, to His family, thereby reaping the benefits of true joy and happiness. Finally, we are using the marvelous gifts given to us for what they were intended. We become living intercessors as we become more and more attuned to God's love and presence and our need to serve Him and His family. Ephesians 3:17-19 brings these thoughts together "…that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." In the words of Mother Teresa, we see the depth of the love that is possible when we truly love. "I want you all to fill your hearts with great love. Don't imagine that love, to be true and burning must be extraordinary. No, what we need in our life is the continuous desire to love the "One" we love. I live for God and give up my own self. To surrender means to offer Him my free will, my reason, my own life in pure faith. Surrender is true love, the more we surrender the more we love God." As our acceptance of God's love and our love for God grows, our world, our life changes. We begin to find God's love all around us in everything we see, the wonders of this world and the universe - in life and even in death. We find ourselves talking with God at the strangest times and places as we go through each day. Our prayers have more meaning and are more frequent. Our interactions with those around us change. As we are filled with God's love, we respond, as if with God's love. We are happy, content and at peace with ourselves and the world. Pain and suffering can more easily be tolerated - all for the love of God! At this time of the 2009 ADF Appeal, let us reexamine our relationship with God and pledge to do those things necessary to make it a more personal and meaningful relationship. Then, share God's love for us and His gifts to us with our family, a love in action, a love that is lived with the people of this Archdiocese. Romans 12:6-8 "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them …" Finally we will be using the marvelous gifts given to us, for what they were intended! Love gives true value to what we do! 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 "Each must do as already determined without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you. So that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work." One way to share is by supporting the many ministries that help develop the life of the Archdiocese through their many programs and activities. Developing the life of the Archdiocese through ministry |
By
Thomas Maxwell