Christian Spirituality is going Beyond the Barter System

Gospel Thoughts

23rd Week : Thursday

GOSPEL Luke - 6: 27 - 38

First Reading 1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13

Christian Spirituality is going beyond the Barter System

1) Meaning of Barter System

A barter system is an old method of exchange. Th is system has been used for centuries and long before money was invented. People exchanged services and goods for other services and goods in return. 

We give something to others in oder to get something back.

If there is nothing to exchange barter system does not stand. 

2) Example for Barter System in Today's Gospel Reading

*Love* : You love those who love you - Love is concept of exchange here

*Doing good* : You do good to those who do good to you - Good deeds is the means of exchange here

*Lending money* : 

Lend money to those from whom you expect repayment - money is the means of exchange here

In this system we get back what we give or we get back the equal value of some other goods or services.

3) Barter System does not work with Christian Spirituality

*What credit is that to you?*

This is the question asked by Jesus for those who follow the barter system in Christian spirituality

The meaning is very clear. The barter system does not help us to gain any credits. 

Here credits can be understood as 

The blessings of the Lord

The reward from the Lord 

The service minded attitude 

The sacrificial aspect 

The Spiritual gain and Richness 

The heavenly gain or profit in spiritual matters 

Since no such things are added to our life, the whole efforts go in vain and at the end of the day we are empty. So such exercises are futile and useless. 

4) Christian Spirituality is Doing things without any expectations

Instead of following barter system we need to follow the opposite system. In the opposite system we don't exchange anything for the things we give or the services we do. 

Some of the examples 

Lend expecting nothing back

Love without expecting any love from another person 

Do good without expecting anything in return - either praise, appreciation or anything in return 

5) Deeper level of Christian spirituality

The above said exercises come only at the peripheral level. But the genuine Christian spirituality is much more deeper and much more challenging. Jesus calls us to this level of spirituality. 

Here are some examples of such deeper spirituality - 

*Love your enemies*

*Do good to those who hate you*

*Bless those who curse you*

*Pray for those who mistreat you.*

*To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well*

*From the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.*

*Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.*

*Do to others as you would have them do to you.*

6) Why we need to follow the Deeper Spirituality and not the Barter system spirituality

In barter system spirituality we are given back the equal share for our service by another person. So what we give, we get it back from another. There remains no balance to be paid later 

In the deeper spirituality we are not given back anything for our services by another person and we do not expect anything in return for the same 

But still the reward for the services we have done remains. Such rewards come from a superior power or divine power, that is by God himself

*Your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High*

Such reward comes from God for those who go beyond the barter system spirituality

7) From who do we expect reward

There are two choices for us 

We can expect from other human beings - in such case we lose from God. 

We can expect only from God in such cases we have to face lots of challenges. 

Reward from human beings only  a momentary thing

Reward from God will be for eternity

*Now make a wise choice*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*