Josemaría Escrivá: Supernatural

If you lose the supernatural meaning of your life, your charity will be philanthropy; your purity, decency; your mortification, stupidity; your discipline, a whip; and all your works, fruitless.

Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975) in The Way, reading #279-#280.

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In his letter to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul spoke of people who did many actions that seem wonderful, but they are all worthless without love.

This came to mind as I was reading The Way. I noticed these two readings contained a similar message. Most people live natural lives.

That means they do not have God and His love at the center of everything. They set their mind on earthly rather than heavenly things. Does that describe you?

If you choose this path "your charity will be philanthropy; your purity, decency; your mortification, stupidity; your discipline, a whip; and all your works, fruitless."

Interestingly, the New Testament never uses the language of 'philanthropy' when speaking of Christian giving. This term focuses on earthly things with "plane-like vision." In the end, everything deed done on this path is worthless and fruitless.

Alternatively, the language of 'charity' appears in the New Testament as it comes from the root word 'charis' meaning 'grace'. We also see the word 'generosity' as a fruit of the Spirit. This brings the supernatural life into view.

To live a supernatural life means that we abound in God's love, grace, and mercy, and we spread it everywhere we go. To do this we must set our minds on heavenly things. Does that describe you?

Let the beauty of the clouds in the header photo serve as a perpetual reminder to set your mind on heavenly things.