CHEAP AND TACKY

2 corinthians 8:1-9; PS 146 Praise the lord my soul; Matthew 5:43-48

"I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others. For you know the gracious at of our Lord JEsus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that  by his poverty you might become rich."


To test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others.


How often is our love tested?  How often do we find it easy to say and a lot harder to do, that is to love?


A friend of mind, when we travel together, we always keep an eye out for the the cheapest and tackiest souvenirs.  It never fails to amaze me how cheap and tacky these street vendors can be.  To date, there have been many cheap and tacky souvenirs, but the one that stands out is the miniature dish int he shape of the Colosseum, in which a few goldfish crackers could be held.

But there have been many cheap and tacky souvenirs: the calendar of priest of the month seen in the streets of St. Peter's Basilica, the bobble head Swiss guard along with the bobble head pope, the apron that has the image of the male parts from the statue of David, and the list goes on and on.

We know words are cheap and yet time and time again we settle for cheap.  Not only do we settle for cheap but tacky also accompanies our effort of lack there of.

Sometimes we treat love as if it were a souvenir: cheap and tacky will do.

No longer.  St. Paul invites us to remember that all we do is first and foremost an invitation to imitate Christ:  "for you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor that by his poverty  you might be rich."

Lets leave cheap and tacky behind when it comes to love.  They are great descriptions for souvenirs, not so great for imitation of Christ in our life.

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, fr he makes the sun rise on the bad and good."


BE perfect! Love those who God loves in God way not our own.