Josemaría Escrivá: Detach

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

“Don’t forget it: he has most who needs least. Don’t create needs for yourself… Detach yourself from the goods of the world. Love and practice poverty of spirit: be content with what enables you to live a simple and sober life. Otherwise, you will never be an apostle… Rather than in not having, true poverty consists in being detached, in voluntarily renouncing one’s dominion over things. That is why there are poor who are really rich. And vice-versa.”

Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975) in The Way (Opus Dei, 1950) 29:630-632.

In From Strength to Strength, Arthur C. Brooks suggests in general terms that people in the West people seek satisfaction in having more and people in the East try to find meaning in having less.

Yet, there’s a midpoint between the two. It’s not so much that having more or less is bad, because God made creation and declared it good for our enjoyment. The key in the middle is to avoid attachment to anything but Christ.

This is where Josemaría Escrivá speaks with precision that echoes the early church. He calls us to detach from the things of this world. It does not mean we can’t enjoy them. It means we enjoy them without becoming enslaved by them.

To keep ourselves from the love of money and be content is to say with confidence that we need nothing but the Lord who is our helper to navigate the uncertainties of life. What about you? Are you attached to anything?

Sit with the Lord. Apart from Him, is there anything that you feel like you have to have to get through life? to feel secure? Identify that thing or things. Ask God to teach you to enjoy it without becoming enslaved to it.

In the words of Escrivá, if you can’t live detached from things, you can never be an apostle. That simply means you can never testify that Christ is all you need, until you have put yourself in the position where Christ is all you have.

With gratitude to God, I can testify that in 2011, during my wife’s cancer journey after we had stored up all our worldly wealth in heaven, we learned by experience that the Lord was all we needed. He helped us and supplied our needs. So we trust him with complete confidence.

The one who learns to attach to the Lord and nothing else will undoubtedly follow in the steps of Jesus and suffer, will experience contentment and gratitude, and will never be disappointed or forsaken. And he or she will have the testimony of an apostle.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties.” Numbers 8:23-26

“No matter how you find your passion, early on, pursue it with a white-hot flame, dedicating it to the good of the world. But hold your success lightly–be ready to change as your abilities change. Even if your worldly prestige fails, lean into the changes. Remember, every change of circumstances is a chance to learn, grow, and create value… Devote the back half of your life to serving others with your wisdom. Get old sharing the things you believe are most important. Excellence is always it own reward, and this is how you can be most excellent as you age.”

Arthur C. Brooks in From Strength to Strength (New York: Penguin, 2022) 39-40.

Today’s Scripture is the text God gave me when I turned 50. The text basically teaches God’s servants that for about 25 years their job is to do the work. Then at 50 it changes. The Levites pivot from working to serving.

They must minister to the next generation to keep guard of the work and sustain ministry from generation to generation. Or as Brooks put it, my role is to “get old sharing” wisdom and important stuff. I love that, as I turned 55 on 13 December 2022.

I finished this book in my first two days of rest in Puerto Rico. It was time well spend. Again, I was inspired to read it as I am part of a group of Christian brothers reading and discussing it.

And I want to make it known that I am following the example of the Levites who shifted from working to serving. I am shifting from doing the work to developing others. This mirrors what I have read in this book.

The title of the book, From Strength to Strength, was inspired by a phrase that appears in Psalms.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. Psalm 84:5-7

I learned much from this book which I will share in time. I really appreciated the call to develop my relationships, to help those around me increase their effectiveness, and to embrace my weakness, which actually increases the prospect of my long-term impact.

God help us to go from strength to strength. Help us get old sharing important stuff. Cause us to bring life to the people and the desert places through which we pass as we journey to our eternal home and someday appear before You. Amen.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. Luke 1:52

Litany of Humility

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

“Litany of Humility” by Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val y Zulueta was the Secretary of State to Pope Saint Pius X (1903-1914).

Yesterday in my time of rest which involved sunscreen, sunglasses, and a recliner, I read much of the book From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks. I am part of a group of Christian brothers reading and discussing it.

Brooks cited this prayer among many other great things. It’s an interesting book that offers great advice for “avoiding the snares of workaholism and success addiction, while investing in the relationships that bring true satisfaction.”

Anyway, this prayer struck me because daily I need to ask God to deliver me from wrong thinking and actions and plant in me the desire to walk in His ways. Join me in praying this prayer.

And if you struggle with words like “calumniated” then join the club. I had to look it up. It means slandered falsely. Read it again. Did one or two lines stand out to you. Repeat them as a prayer to Jesus.

Being delivered from bad things and having the grace to desire the right things are gifts from God. May each of us be delivered from things that hinder generosity and may God give us the desire for the things that unleash it for His glory. Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

“Delicacies spent on pleasures become a dangerous shipwreck to men; for this voluptuous and ignoble life of the many is alien to true love for the beautiful and to refined pleasures… Love of wealth displaces a man from the right mode of life, and induces him to cease from feeling shame at what is shameful; if only, like a beast, he has power to eat all sorts of things, and to drink in like manner, and to satiate in every way his lewd desires. And so very rarely does he inherit the kingdom of God…

We, then, on our journey to the truth, must be unencumbered. Carry not, said the Lord, purse, nor scrip, nor shoes (Luke 10:4); that is, possess not wealth, which is only treasured up in a purse; fill not your own stores, as if laying up produce in a bag, but communicate to those who have need… We must, then, cast away the multitude of vessels, silver and gold drinking cups, and the crowd of domestics, receiving as we have done from the Instructor the fair and grave attendants, Self-help and Simplicity.

But that which is superfluous, what they call ornaments and the furniture of the rich, is a burden, not an ornament to the body. He who climbs to the heavens by force, must carry with him the fair staff of beneficence, and attain to the true rest by communicating to those who are in distress. For the Scripture avouches, that the true riches of the soul are a man’s ransom, (Proverbs 13:8) that is, if he is rich, he will be saved by distributing it. For as gushing wells, when pumped out, rise again to their former measure, so giving away, being the benignant spring of love, by communicating of its drink to the thirsty, again increases and is replenished…

For the Word is a possession that wants nothing, and is the cause of all abundance… The good man, then, can never be in difficulties so long as he keeps intact his confession towards God. For it appertains to him to ask and to receive whatever he requires from the Father of all; and to enjoy what is his own, if he keep the Son. And this also appertains to him, to feel no want. This Word, who trains us, confers on us the true riches. Nor is the growing rich an object of envy to those who possess through Him the privilege of wanting nothing. He that has this wealth shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Clement of Alexandria in “Frugality a Good Provision for the Christian” in The Instructor, Book 3, Chapter 7. The new header photo is from our peaceful porch in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Jenni and I love how peaceful it is.

As I rest this week, reading the Word and sitting at the feet of instructors like Clement, I find true riches. While most people pursue power, pleasures, or possessions, we discover our purpose when we live life unencumbered.

Freedom is found through communicating and distributing. Like a gushing well, God replenishes our supply to be springs of love who share with the thirsty. I needed to hear this on my break. It nudges me to stay the course.

“For the Word is a possession that wants nothing, and is the cause of all abundance.” As I soak in this truth I realize the gravity of it. The Word always has something good for me, something that will restore me. It’s true for all of us.

I give thanks today for the privilege of “wanting nothing.”

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all and in all! Colossians 3:5-11

“Do not suppose, ye Greeks, that my separation from your customs is unreasonable and unthinking; for I found in them nothing that is holy or acceptable to God… And your public assemblies I have come to hate. For there are excessive banquetings, and subtle flutes which provoke to lustful movements, and useless and luxurious anointings, and crowning with garlands. With such a mass of evils do you banish shame; and ye fill your minds with them, and are carried away by intemperance…

Henceforth, ye Greeks, come and partake of incomparable wisdom, and be instructed by the Divine Word, and acquaint yourselves with the King immortal; and do not recognise those men as heroes who slaughter whole nations. For our own Ruler, the Divine Word, who even now constantly aids us, does not desire strength of body and beauty of feature, nor yet the high spirit of earth’s nobility, but a pure soul, fortified by holiness, and the watchwords of our King, holy actions, for through the Word power passes into the soul…

Come, be taught; become as I am, for I, too, was as ye are. These have conquered me–the divinity of the instruction, and the power of the Word: for as a skilled serpent-charmer lures the terrible reptile from his den and causes it to flee, so the Word drives the fearful passions of our sensual nature from the very recesses of the soul; first driving forth lust, through which every ill is begotten–hatreds, strife, envy, emulations, anger, and such like. Lust being once banished, the soul becomes calm and serene. And being set free from the ills in which it was sunk up to the neck, it returns to Him who made it.”

Justin Martyr (c. 150-160) in Discourse to the Greeks (Roberts-Donaldson English Translation).

In my reading yesterday I came across this discourse. In the full version, Justin outlines why has separated from the Greek customs which are “excessive” and “useless” and instead chosen to partake of incomparable wisdom.

Pause for a second. Wisdom was a big deal for the Greeks, the ultimate attainment. So, after unmasking the foolishness of their customs, he pointed them to incomparable wisdom. Come and partake. Come, be taught.

And a key thread to grasping wisdom is abandoning earthly ways which make a person a slave to their lusts. This echoes the Apostle Paul who exhorted us to put these lusts to death and be instructed by the Word.

I am pausing my exploration of “gratitude” in the early Christian writings to rest this week in a warm, tropical place with my wife. This break, made possible by the grace of God, frequent flyer miles and hotel points.

I brought some books to read and plan to get rest, to be instructed by the Word to drive forth lusts and experience calm and serene. Join me this week. Accept Justin’s invitation. Come, partake, and be taught.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16

“Our Saviour’s works, moreover, were always present: for they were real, consisting of those who had been healed of their diseases, those who had been raised from the dead; who were not only seen whilst they were being healed and raised up, but were afterwards constantly present. Nor did they remain only during the sojourn of the Saviour on earth, but also a considerable time after His departure; and, indeed, some of them have survived even down to our own times.”

Quadratus of Athens (c. 126) in Fragments of Quadratus of Athens (Roberts-Donaldson English Translation).

Jesus invites us to follow Him and do the good works He did. Specifically, He appointed us us to produce “fruit that will last.” By this way, after we are long gone, the fruit will continue to be evident.

Quadratus was an early Christian apologist. He is said to have presented his apology to Hadrian in Athens when the emperor attended the celebration of the Eleusinian mysteries.

The period of the emperor Hadrian, during which Quadratus is said to have made his apology, was from 117 CE to 138 CE. Scholars date this writing around 126 CE.

We don’t know what he said, but we can surmise that he reported the facts, the fruits of the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ so the emperor would know the truth. What a bold brother!

What we do know from this fragment is that Quadratus reported that the works of Jesus were “always present” and “real” and their impact continued “a considerable time” after his ascension.

Think about the significance of this.

If we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, our good works, our generosity should likewise be “always present” and “real” have an ongoing impact “a considerable time” after we are gone.

Sit with this question. God, can you show me by the Holy Spirit the works you have for me in 2023 so that they are “always present” and “real” and have an impact “a considerable time” after I am gone?

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35

“If you also desire [to possess] this faith, you likewise shall receive first of all the knowledge of the Father. For God has loved mankind, on whose account He made the world, to whom He rendered subject all the things that are in it, to whom He gave reason and understanding, to whom alone He imparted the privilege of looking upwards to Himself, whom He formed after His own image, to whom He sent His only-begotten Son, to whom He has promised a kingdom in heaven, and will give it to those who have loved Him. And when you have attained this knowledge, with what joy do you think you will be filled? Or, how will you love Him who has first so loved you? And if you love Him, you will be an imitator of His kindness. And do not wonder that a man may become an imitator of God. He can, if he is willing. For it is not by ruling over his neighbours, or by seeking to hold the supremacy over those that are weaker, or by being rich, and showing violence towards those that are inferior, that happiness is found; nor can any one by these things become an imitator of God. But these things do not at all constitute His majesty.

On the contrary he who takes upon himself the burden of his neighbour; he who, in whatsoever respect he may be superior, is ready to benefit another who is deficient; he who, whatsoever things he has received from God, by distributing these to the needy, becomes like a god to those who receive [his benefits]: he is an imitator of God. Then thou shalt see, while still on earth, that God in the heavens rules over [the universe]; then thou shall begin to speak the mysteries of God; then shalt thou both love and admire those that suffer punishment because they will not deny God; then shall thou condemn the deceit and error of the world when thou shall know what it is to live truly in heaven, when thou shalt despise that which is here esteemed to be death, when thou shalt fear what is truly death, which is reserved for those who shall be condemned to the eternal fire, which shall afflict those even to the end that are committed to it. Then shalt thou admire those who for righteousness’ sake endure the fire that is but for a moment, and shalt count them happy when thou shalt know [the nature of] that fire.”

Mathetes (c. 130) “a disciple of the Apostles,” was likely a student of Paul or an associate of one of the Apostles, in The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, 10 (Roberts-Donaldson English Translation).

In his Sermon on the Plain in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus calls His followers to love their enemies, do good to them, and to lend to enemies without expecting to get anything back. That’s radically different from cultural norms.

The instruction makes no sense in earthly terms. But from a kingdom perspective, Jesus promises reward and renown, “you will be children of the Most High,” for imitating His kindness to the undeserving.

Then in today’s post we learn from Mathetes, who learned from one of the Apostles, that when we follow the teachings of Jesus, we become imitators of God. This takes on many forms of generosity.

We don’t do this by being rich. We do it by helping carry the burden of our neighbor, by distributing to the needy, and benefiting the deficient. All this is paradoxical. Only as we live it out, do we start to grasp the mysteries of God.

A closer look reveals that the inspiration for the sacrificial generosity of the first disciples was not guilt or obligation. They simply imitated the kindness of our Lord, and in so doing, discovered abundant life.

It was not only better than anything the world could offer. It was worth dying for. Imagine you are Diognetus…Do you share the passion and resolve if Mathetes? Are you ready to endure fire for a moment?

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them. Acts 15:37

“Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatsoever he remembered. It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds of Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards, as I said, he accompanied Peter, who accommodated his instructions to the necessities [of his hearers], but with no intention of giving a regular narrative of the Lord’s sayings. Wherefore Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them. For of one thing he took special care, not to omit anything he had heard, and not to put anything fictitious into the statements.”

Papias of Hierapolis in Fragments of Papias (Roberts-Donaldson English Translation).

I hope you are finding the journey through ancient documents interesting. I am moved by the gratitude, commitment, and faithfulness of the Apostolic Fathers.

Today we turn to Papias, bishop of Hierapolis (mentioned in Colossians 4:13), a hearer of John the Apostle, and a friend of Polycarp. He provides ancient evidence that Mark gave us the Petrine gospel (Peter’s account).

Most interesting is his description of it this account. It did not intend to be a narrative of the Lord’s dealings but he took “special care” to write down “the necessities” for us.

He wrote everything he recalled. He neither omitted anything nor put anything fictitious in there. Mark’s Gospel comes to us as a gift, ‘the necessities” of the gospel! How might you give such a gift?

You too have “neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him” but undoubtedly you’ve learned from your own study. What are important teachings of Jesus you could pass on to others?

Think about it. Some of the richest generosity takes this form: You study the teachings of Jesus, put them to practice, and then testify to their veracity to others. You figure them out as you live them out.

And then you help the next generation. John taught guys like Papias and Polycarp. Peter poured himself into Mark who helped future generations know about Jesus. What can you do to help future generations know about Jesus?

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-28

“For the race of the pious is now persecuted in a way contrary to all precedent, being harassed by a new kind of edicts everywhere in Asia. For unblushing informers, and such as are greedy of other men’s goods, taking occasion from the orders issued, carry on their robbery without any disguise, plundering of their property night and day those who are guilty of no wrong.

If these proceedings take place at thy bidding, well and good. For a just sovereign will never take unjust measures; and we, on our part, gladly accept the honour of such a death. This request only we present to thee, that thou wouldst first of all examine for thyself into the behaviour of these reputed agents of so much strife, and then come to a just decision as to whether they merit death and punishment, or deserve to live in safety and quiet.

But if, on the contrary, it shall turn out that this measure, and this new sort of command, which it would be unbecoming to employ even against barbarian foemen, do not proceed from thee, then all the more do we entreat thee not to leave us thus.”

Melito of Sardis (c. 170) in his Apology addressed to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Roberts-Donaldson Translation).

It’s awesome to read the radical teachings of Jesus. They are counterintuitive and point the way to life. It’s also quite interesting to read the writings of disciples who followed after Him. The followed in obedience!

For example, the apostle John discipled Polycarp who discipled Irenaeus. Melito likely knew Polycarp and almost assuredly he knew Irenaeus. Melito writes this apology from Sardis in the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180).

Remember, Sardis is one of the seven churches mentioned in John’s Apocalypse (Revelation 3:1-6). We can posit that Melito was among the faithful remnant there which had not fallen asleep.

He writes the emperor and describes what’s happening. “Unblushing informers” are “greedy” and “plundering” the property of “the pious” This term, “the pious,” was the label the Romans affixed on the Christians for their consistent behavior.

Anyway, Melito does not come across as complaining. He submits to the emperor saying that “if these proceedings take place at thy bidding, well and good.” In other words, treat us as you wish, just examine what is taking place.

What happened you may ask? What’s the rest of the story? In hard times, God strengthens His people and gives them grace to remain pious. People like this are one of God’s greatest gifts to the church.

Sadly, Melito was martyred by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. Not guilty of wrong, He stayed pious to the death. As Jesus commanded, he did good to the Emperor to the death. Let’s go and do likewise in these crazy times.

And the master of that slave felt compassion, and he released him and forgave him the debt. Matthew 18:27

“Therefore, by remitting sins, [Jesus] did indeed heal man, while He also manifested Himself who He was. For if no one can forgive sins but God alone, while the Lord remitted them and healed men, it is plain that He was Himself the Word of God made the Son of man, receiving from the Father the power of remission of sins; since He was man, and since He was God, in order that since as man He suffered for us, so as God He might have compassion on us, and forgive us our debts, in which we were made debtors to God our Creator. And therefore David said beforehand, “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed sin; “pointing out thus that remission of sins which follows upon His advent, by which “He has destroyed the handwriting” of our debt, and “fastened it to the cross; ” so that as by means of a tree we were made debtors to God, [so also] by means of a tree we may obtain the remission of our debt.”

Irenaeus of Lyons in Against Heresies 5.17.3 (c. 175-185).

Let us give thanks today that Jesus had compassion on us and released us from a debt we could never repay. The debt we accumulated as a result of our sins. Or as Irenaeus the bishop of Lyons so eloquently put it:

“He has destroyed the handwriting” of our debt, and “fastened it to the cross; ” so that as by means of a tree we were made debtors to God, [so also] by means of a tree we may obtain the remission of our debt.”

I pray this produces three things in us—gratitude, compassion, and generosity—which can point people to our Lord Jesus Christ, the only one who can secure the remission of their debt.

Firstly, let us each morning and every hour express gratitude to God in our hearts and with our lips for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation we have through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Secondly, may God stir in us a similar compassion in us for those who remained enslaved to sin. Even as we have been healed by the blood of Jesus, they need the healing only found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, even as Jesus held nothing back but suffered and sacrificed his life for us, I pray that we will hold nothing back. Let us live, give, serve, and love others generously to make known the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, I have the monthly GTP staff meeting with 10 workers from 10 countries (myself included). Pray for us. When GTP flourishes, the churches and ministries we serve become more effective and more people come to know our Lord Jesus Christ.

We will discuss program work serving church and ministry workers in the next month onsite in Ethiopia, Kenya, Guatemala, and Honduras, and online cohorts reaching Thailand, Philippines, Nigeria, China, and receptive stewards worldwide.

If God has put one or more of these countries or people groups on your heart, please consider a one-time gift today or set up monthly giving here in support of this important onsite and online program work.