4/5 17 Lalo about 30
It was such a beautiful sunny morning out in the park after what seemed like weeks of rain and clouds. A man approached on the sidewalk, walking his dog, headphones on, distracted. I waved to get his attention, and he took them off to hear my question - "What do you think happens after we die?" He smiled, looking off into space to think about his answer. "I never really think about it, I don't really know" he finally said. He thought about it some more and settled on some on-the-spot wishful thinking - "I guess I hope I'll come back for another life, maybe come back as another person." I could tell he was just making it up as he thought about it.
Did his lack of serious thought mean that God has never worked in his life? I asked about his background. He (Lalo) had grown up in Mexico and attended "catecismo" classes at his local parish. He'd had a basic introduction to Christianity but had never taken it seriously. When I met him he had forgotten all about God and was caught up in the daily struggle and distractions of life.
Lalo reminded me of Jesus' parable about 3 servants who were each given 3 different amounts of gold. The first two had been given 10 and 5 bags, and they had been faithful to gain more with what they had been given. The third had taken the 1 bag he had been given, and instead of working even harder than the others to try to make up the difference, he just buried it and forgot about it. The master reacted with anger, calling him a wicked, lazy servant and saying “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Compared to many people, Lalo may not have been given much in terms of exposure to the Gospel, but he had been given something. However, what he had been given has long since been buried and forgotten. It's been neglected to the point that he can't remember the truths of the Gospel or see God is working in his life. Whatever faith he does have will be taken away. Soon he may not even believe that God exists.
Jesus' parable ends tragically for the wicked, lazy servant. Fortunately, the parables are meant to illustrate only one or a few truths, not the whole picture. The whole story may not be finished yet! My hope for Lalo is that truths from other parables will come into play. The "Prodigal Son" for example. May Lalo experience the joy of returning and being welcomed into the arms of his heavenly Father.
The cold, gloomy days had made us appreciate the warm, sunny day even more, and Lalo and I enjoyed a beautiful conversation. He heard about the light of Jesus again after many years of the gloom and darkness there is without Him in comparison. Let's pray that this time, Lalo doesn't bury and neglect that treasure and forget about Him all over again.
It was such a beautiful sunny morning out in the park after what seemed like weeks of rain and clouds. A man approached on the sidewalk, walking his dog, headphones on, distracted. I waved to get his attention, and he took them off to hear my question - "What do you think happens after we die?" He smiled, looking off into space to think about his answer. "I never really think about it, I don't really know" he finally said. He thought about it some more and settled on some on-the-spot wishful thinking - "I guess I hope I'll come back for another life, maybe come back as another person." I could tell he was just making it up as he thought about it.
Did his lack of serious thought mean that God has never worked in his life? I asked about his background. He (Lalo) had grown up in Mexico and attended "catecismo" classes at his local parish. He'd had a basic introduction to Christianity but had never taken it seriously. When I met him he had forgotten all about God and was caught up in the daily struggle and distractions of life.
Lalo reminded me of Jesus' parable about 3 servants who were each given 3 different amounts of gold. The first two had been given 10 and 5 bags, and they had been faithful to gain more with what they had been given. The third had taken the 1 bag he had been given, and instead of working even harder than the others to try to make up the difference, he just buried it and forgot about it. The master reacted with anger, calling him a wicked, lazy servant and saying “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Compared to many people, Lalo may not have been given much in terms of exposure to the Gospel, but he had been given something. However, what he had been given has long since been buried and forgotten. It's been neglected to the point that he can't remember the truths of the Gospel or see God is working in his life. Whatever faith he does have will be taken away. Soon he may not even believe that God exists.
Jesus' parable ends tragically for the wicked, lazy servant. Fortunately, the parables are meant to illustrate only one or a few truths, not the whole picture. The whole story may not be finished yet! My hope for Lalo is that truths from other parables will come into play. The "Prodigal Son" for example. May Lalo experience the joy of returning and being welcomed into the arms of his heavenly Father.
The cold, gloomy days had made us appreciate the warm, sunny day even more, and Lalo and I enjoyed a beautiful conversation. He heard about the light of Jesus again after many years of the gloom and darkness there is without Him in comparison. Let's pray that this time, Lalo doesn't bury and neglect that treasure and forget about Him all over again.
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