Inspiration 3: Allow Yourself to Love Others (Part 1)

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ 
But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? 
Mt. 5:43-44, 46

It’s impossible to save yourself without saving others,

but it’s more impossible to save others without saving yourself.

The Parable of Jose and Wally

One day while having my personal retreat, I came across with a very inspiring story. I personally called this story “The Parable of Jose and Wally”¹. Let me share it with you.

Time-before-time, when the world was still young, there were two brothers named Jose and Wally. Jose was single and Wally had a wife and a large family. These brothers shared a field and a mill. Each night they divided evenly the grain they had produced together during the day.

One day Jose thought to himself, “It isn’t really fair that we divide the grain evenly. I’ve only myself to care for, but my brother has a wife and children to feed.” So each night he secretly took some of his grain into Wally’s granary to see that he was never without.

Then one day, Wally also thought to himself, “It isn’t fair that we divide the grain evenly, because I have children to provide for me in my old age, but my brother has no one. What will he do when he is old?” So every night he secretly took some of his grain to Jose’s granary. As a result, both of them always found their supply of grain mysteriously replenished each morning.

Then one night they meet each other half way between their two houses. They suddenly realized what has been happening all this time, and they embraced each other in love.

The Lesson

Ok, maybe you’re thinking; “If this is really a parable, why is the lesson very obvious? Even a grade school student can easily tell that this is about sharing, helping, or being generous!”.

Yes, it’s pretty obvious that the story is about generosity but let us not jump early to this message. Let me first tell you a not so obvious lesson that made the story more dramatic and inspiring.

What is this?

CONVERSION!

Why conversion? If you will read again the parable, you’ll notice that in the beginning it was said: “when the world was still young… the two brothers (Jose and Wally) was dividing their produce "evenly”.

Wow, very loving and righteous brothers. (how I wish all siblings are like them, especially when it comes to the land left by their parents) And I think you’ll agree with me if I said that their practice of “fairness” is commendable.

Then the parable goes on, it says: One day, Jose thought to himself, “It isn’t fair that we divide the grain evenly because my brother has wife and children to feed…” And then one day, Wally also thought to himself, “It isn’t fair that we divide the grain evenly, because I have children to provide for me but Jose has no one…”

Kabooom! These two brothers defy the “LAW of FAIRNESS!”

Jose and Wally changed form being  fair  to being GENEROUS!

What do I mean?

Take a look at this: The phrase”when the world is still young” could mean freshness, abundance, peacefulness. During this time, Jose and Wally’s practice is to give fairly: an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, or in Filipino, patas lang, tama lang, walang dayaan, walang lamangan.

But look at what happened later: “One day”, (this implies that the day is never the same as before; scarcity, shortage, difficulty came) and fairness or ‘patas lang’ is no longer relevant to Jose and Wally’s condition.

Now, because of their situation, they both THINK that in order for them to survive (as well as for Wally’s wife and children), it is "not fair" that they only GIVE WHAT IS DUE to each other but to GIVE WHAT IS NEEDED by each other.

Again, the two brothers were converted from being FAIR to being GENEROUS!

From Fairness to Generosity

So Bro. Chad, the story is really about generosity? Yes, definitely! But please do not forget CONVERSION, the conversion from Fairness to Generosity.

Listen.

FAIRNESS is good but it is not enough especially nowadays. If we want to improve our situation on poverty, corruption, injustice, crime, child abuse, addiction, illiteracy, sickness, famine, drought, global warming, etc. we all need to be GENEROUS! There is no other way.

Believe me, if we consider ourselves as Christians, a Disciples of Christ; then this is no longer an option for us, it is a must!

Listen more to what Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let him slap you on the left cheek too. (Mt 5: 38-39)

Jesus continued…

 If someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to him. (v.40-42)

In the end He said:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary?(v. 43-44, 46-47)

I know this is hard but this is what Jesus is asking from us. Jesus said at end of the chapter:

            

           You must be perfect-just as your Father in heaven is perfect! (v. 48)

Now I hear you saying: “This is impossible!”

Yes, if only by our own effort but NOT when we are with God. (cf. Mt 19:26)

Are you Fair or Generous?

Allow me now to ask you some questions.

Will you give your seat to a man with his young daughter if you know that you already paid for it and it will be a long trip? Are you willing to extend a hand for the fare of your co-passenger even if you are tired? Will you lend money to your neighbor without interest although you’re not sure if he can return it on time? Will you come to a colleague and say “sorry” if you fully know that she’s the one who is at fault? Will you volunteer for a special assignment in your work although there is no additional pay for it? (at minsan abunado ka pa) Will you do an urgent and important work of your superior (who’s not always around) although you know that he will always get the credit?  

If most of your answer to these questions above is NO, then you (and me) needed to be converted, we need to be changed from being FAIR to being GENEROUS!

Why this kind of conversion is important for us?

Because without this, it will be hard for us to allow ourselves to love others!

Yes, if we will not change and we'll only settle for what is “fair” and not think and act “unfair” (when the situations calls it), we will only be callous and indifferent to each others needs.

What do I mean?

I’m  actually tempted to elaborate with you now this spirituality of  “UNFAIRNESS”  but sorry if I will suddenly end here. What I would like to suggest now is for you  to spend a personal time with your God to digest and internalize the things that you’ve already heard.

My wish is that with Him, you’ll receive the grace of conversion from fairness to generosity.

Until then my friend.

May you live a generous and inspiring life!

 

¹Crafted from ‘Two Brothers’ by Archbishop Thomas Murphy