When I first heard someone say, “I’m a fool for Christ,” I didn’t have an urge to join him. In fact, I wanted to flee in the opposite direction. It brought up images of someone being obnoxiously Christian, someone with whom it would be difficult to have a normal conversation because the end of every sentence would be punctuated with a dopey grin and “Amen!”or “Praise God!” Someone who would smother me.
As I’ve come to know Christ better, the phrase has taken on a different meaning. When people behave in ways that seem unreasonable to us, we call them fools. And what is reasonable in this world? Not letting anyone “take advantage” of us. Putting ourselves first. Letting God have second place, or third, or whatever spot is available after we’ve taken care of priorities that include making a comfortable living and earning praise and honor for accomplishments.
So, when we give money to the homeless person, we are called fools. Jesus said to give alms to the poor. He didn’t say to make certain they spent that money well. Maybe the guy with the clever sign who waits on the corner every day will spend that money on liquor, but maybe he will notice that someone gave willingly to his call for help, and he’ll be moved to discover the motivation behind the action.
We’re fools when we donate time and money to the pregnant teen home or single mother’s program, because we’re encouraging bad behavior. Those girls should learn self-control. By the time they are pregnant, it’s a done deal, and after praising God that they didn’t have an abortion, what will help them know that they are precious in the eyes of God? Condemnation, or a community that helps them through their current difficulties?
We’re fools if we waste time going to the funeral of someone we didn’t know that well. Maybe the deceased is a relative of a woman we see once a week at a social group. That person probably doesn’t expect us to go; it’s not as if we’ll be missed, and we have better things to do with our time. However, Bury the Dead is an act of Mercy, and in that woman’s grief, she may be comforted because you honored her loved one.
We’re fools if we pass up a job with more pay but hours that will keep us from spending time with our families. We’re fools if we tithe when our income is down. We’re fools if we go to Mass twice in one weekend because one of the liturgical ministries is short-handed. Let someone else step up to the plate.
Modern activist try to incite, tossing angry rhetoric and employing bullying tactics to achieve the goal. Fools speak the truth with love.
Secular society pushes to eliminate any human life they deem inconvenient through abortion or euthanasia. Fools respect the dignity of every human being.
Governments create welfare policies that enslave the poor in a cycle of poverty with no way out. Fools give freely knowing that everything belongs to God.
A fool for Christ turns his or her back on the secular standards of the moment and acts in the name of Jesus regardless of difficulties, embarrassment, or cost, because we know there is a better world waiting for those who follow His commandments. A world without poverty, sickness, and strife. A world that will last forever. If it is foolish to try to bring a taste of that world into this one, then God grant that we all be fools.
Copyright 2016, Jacqueline Vick
Jacqueline Vick
Jacqueline Vick is a devout Catholic, wife to a wonderful guy, pet parent to a troubled mutt, and mystery writer. Her website is www.jacquelinevick.com.
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