Friday, February 26, 2010

magnanimous

ezekiel 18:21-28; Psalm 130 If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand; Matthew 5:20-26

"Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven."

The word "surpasses" can be translated as exceeds or more literal in the greek as "more superabundant."

The christian is the person who does not calculate; he does not count the cost; he does not seek the minimal; he does not just do what is correct in order to get by.

The christian is one who does something extra; he lives with a superabundance of goodness. He is the lover who always seeks goodness regardless; he is the lover who does not ask how much farther.

He never rides in the back seat asking are we there yet; rather, he looses himself in the goodness of living in love.

The christian is aware of his failings and short comings but is generous with God and other people because he knows how much he depends on the generosity of God and of his fellow man.
He is the one that St. Paul describes, as the one who owes no debt but love to all. His generosity is rooted in the generosity he knows he has first received.

He is magnanimous.

He realizes the goodness he has received and gives that goodness to others, superabundantly.

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