“BY and large the world is a good place,” claims Fr. Ronald Rolheiser, author of Sacred Fire: A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity. “But among all those good people, only a select few stand out as truly exceptional in both their humanity and other virtue. Many of us are good, few among us are great.”
I’ve been reflecting on this contention and I realize its truthfulness. Indeed, many of us can say that we’re good people: we don’t hurt others, we go to Church on Sundays, we help people in need, we work hard to feed our families, we’re honest at work, and yes, we try our best to follow the Ten Commandments.
But we’re like the young man in the Gospel who claimed that he kept all the commandments since his youth and then came to Jesus to ask this question: Good Master, what must I do to possess eternal life?” Ultimately, Jesus told him: “If you would receive eternal life, go sell everything that you have, give the money to the poor, and come and follow me.”
We’re called not just to be good, but to be great, and this entails giving all that we have, not holding back, to serve our families, communities, Church and society. It’s what I’ve always called as heroic loving and giving.
Fr. Ronald Rolheiser refers to this kind of living as “becoming all flame” based on a famous story taken from the writings of the Desert Fathers. It reads this way: “Abbot Lot went to see Abbot Joseph and said: ‘Father, according as I am able, I keep my little rule, and my little fast, my prayer, meditation and contemplative silence; and according as I am able I strive to cleanse my heart of bad thoughts: now what more should I do?’ The elder rose up in reply and stretched out his hands to heaven, and his fingers became life lamps of fire. He said: ‘Why not become all flame?’ “
For many ordinary people, “becoming all flame” is not about giving away all one’s possessions to those in need and to live poor. It’s about being the most responsible, loving and caring parent who sacrifices all his or her personal needs for the sake of his or her children’s needs. It’s about being the best lover, friend, spouse who constantly and fully understands, forgives, cares, respects, affirms, and holds back any pride, grudge, selfishness, and anger. It’s about caring for others beyond one’s circles of families and friends.
For those who serve in church, government, or community, it’s about leading with honesty and integrity, and serving by not seeking wealth, fame, and other favors. It’s always about looking after the needs of others, especially the poor. It’s about living simply and not being engrossed in a glamorous, materialistic and pleasurable life.
For those who choose a truly radical life, it’s divesting one’s self of every possession and self-glory to serve and to live among the poor.
In summary, “becoming all flame” is doing everything for the glory of God and not for one’s self! As my friend and former classmate, Archbishop Socrates Villegas would say, “Only Jesus, all for Jesus.”
The Gospel this Sunday talks about the parable of person who finds a treasure buried in a field, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field, or a merchant who finds a pearl of great price and goes and sells all that he has and buys it. We can look at this Gospel in this way: the treasure that Jesus refers here is life in the Kingdom of God where one lives by giving away all that he or she has for the sake of total and passionate love for God and neighbor. Indeed, it’s “becoming all flame” for God and others, the greatest treasure of all!
* * *
Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. Johns Seminary in Camarillo, Calif. and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For 20 years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. From 2002 to 2014, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. He will begin teaching at St. John’s Seminary this July. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
