Have you ever heard the statement, “For God’s sake”, or “For goodness sake”? I am sure most if not all of us have. Have you ever stopped to think about what these statements are referring to? In a way they are an appeal for doing God’s will, what is truly good – or at least they used to be. We probably only know them as a somewhat rude or crude English saying that is now divorced from it’s original meaning as now it most often simply means, “C’mon, you can do better than that!” or “Give me a break!” We might even go so far as to say that what we’re really saying is, “For my sake!”, since what we are really saying is that it is not up to my standards. And yet, are not these misused statements beautiful in a way; of course if properly understood?
Listen to what St. Paul says in the second reading, “You know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.” FOR YOUR SAKE! Imagine that, living your life for the sake of others? St. Paul is reminding the people that they did not come for their own good, or to serve their own purpose, or for their own sake – but for their sake. What a novel idea. So novel and so unfamiliar to our ears that it sounds almost impossible or unrealistic. This is not just a novel idea though, this is the mind of God! The reason it sounds so unfamiliar to us is that our society has moved so far to the other extreme.
We do everything for my sake! I go to school…for my sake. I get a job…for my sake. I buy this…for my sake. I marry you…for my sake. I go to Church…for my sake. We approach everything from this perspective in Western culture. What kind of society does this breed? We’ll take a look at the state of Western Civilization. While it was built upon virtue it has succumb to selfish vice. Everything may be for my sake but none of it is my responsibility.
Change will only come, both in our lives and in society, if we put on the mind of Christ. If we love as he loved – not love for my own sake, but for the sake of others – literally for God’s sake! No one has greater love than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’e friends! To live for God’s sake is to love/live for the sake of others! This is what Christ is saying in the Gospel – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind”, and, “love your neighbor as yourself.” This means that all of our faculties, our entire person, is put at the service of God and neighbor – they become instruments for ‘goodness sake!’ Literally for the good of others, for God.
This mentality is meant to be built/incorporated right into every different Christian vocation – Priesthood, religious life, marriage and even the single life. As a priest, I don’t seek to become a priest or live as a priest for my self, for my own good. I am ordained at the service of Christ’s body, of you – the people of God – to help you and ensure that as many of you both get to heaven and fulfill your own vocation (which is also at the service of others). The reason why priestly sin is so scandalous is because it flies in the face of everything that we are supposed to be – truly living for God’s sake, for your sake. But this is no different for others – the sins of any other Christian should scandalize us because they to are called to the same kind of service. You that are married or will be marrying – you don’t marry for your own sake (for my sake) but for the sake of the other – for their salvation and maturation in holiness and for your children! In good times and bad, in sickness and health…all that (not for me!) but for you! For your spouse!
You may say, well where is the good of me in all this? It comes almost as a bi-product. For example, a priest will be most fulfilled when he lives most fully a life of service to God’s people. Of course this is only fully possible when the priestrealizes that, in Christ, he has everything.
