Child and Heir

How many people here are High School Graduates? Have you ever considered the time it took, and the amount of work that was done, in order for you to have that title? The answer for most is probably 12 years. That’s a lot! Yet it’s rather interesting that something that would require great effort is not held in high esteem. It’s quite the norm for someone of my age to posses their High School diploma despite all the years of hard work. Now let’s look at those who have graduated from University or College. Depending on what avenue they studied it could take 3 to 8 more years until they have completed their education. (We’re including Doctors and Priests).

Dictionary.com calls a doctor “an eminent scholar and teacher.” A doctor, now that’s a title that holds respect. Someone would have to be very intelligent and determined if they wanted this role. In our society we value and admire such titles. For good reason, it’s quite the obstinate challenge.

We also give prestigious awards to those who make discoveries, write literature, perform on stage and in film, create beautiful music, and aid in humanitarian work. We give out Peabody’s, Oscar’s, Tony’s, Nobel’s, Pulitzer’s, Gold, Silver and Bronze. However there is one title none of us will ever grasp and no award we could ever achieve. No matter how educated or successful we become in this life we will never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, be God. It’s simple and straight forward, the answer is no.

Yet God, in all his incomparable awesomeness, offers us something much greater than anything we could ever dream of achieving. “When we cry, "Abba Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8: 16 – 17)

A Child and an heir, this is what he gives us. So what astronomical adventure must we pursue in order to win that role? What insane gesture of greatness and act of heroism must we undertake? Our first step is to cry to Him, and then we offer Him our burden.

I think its funny how we get offend at real life dramas like “The Hills”. We see the tension take place as these undeserving affluent young people, living off their parents millions of dollars, complain about life, relationships, fashion faux pas and any other superficial topic under the California sun. How are you any different? Just how deserving are you? We are completely unsuitable to say the least. Yet to acknowledge this somehow qualifies us to accept it. This is available to all; elitists, cosmopolitans, socialites, businessmen, politicians, bus drivers, single moms, the orphaned, jailbirds, vagrants, and You.

The next part is living it out. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matthew 28: 19 – 20). Notice in the gospel, Jesus provides a journey for the disciples and through this they find him. In my mind this encounter in an archetype for conversion and having an interior confidence in Jesus. We then are aware of our need to worship him. When this confidence is shaken, like other times in the gospel, all Jesus has to do is reaffirm that he’s Jesus “"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This call to evangelization isn’t any kind of automated ritual but springs forth from our encounter with the risen Jesus.