Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Oliver Quilab SVD – Germany
Friday 18th Week in Ordinary Time
You might have seen them on TV. Throngs of believers gathered at Quirino Grandstand hoisting up their inverted umbrellas at the behest of their preacher to catch a supposed outpouring of God’s blessings.
Such a familiar gimmick of quasi-religious movements in the Philippines is inspired by the so-called theology of prosperity or “health-wealth-and-happiness gospel” which has been propagated by American televangelists and charismatic preacher for decades.
It claims the Bible teaches that financial prosperity, health, material success are external manifestation of God’s favor, which in turn may be preordained, or granted in return of prayer or merit-making like donating sums of money. It confirms to the wealthy that their wealth is proof God loves them and appeals to the poor because it seems like a way out of poverty.
Many have pointed out the danger of this “egocentric gospel” that perverts Jesus’ message of the Kingdom, neglects the cross, and instead promise health, wealth and success in every way. Whatever the threat posed by the prosperity gospel, a more deceptive assumption definitely lurks within us, that God wants us to be happy and successful.
Countless worship songs, even in Catholic circles, celebrate how much Jesus loves us, how much we love Jesus, and how great God is. Self-help books fill Christian bookstore to the brim. This happiness assumption has sunk so deeply into our psyche that even the words of Jesus could hardly challenge it: Deny, yourself, take up your cross and follow me.
We are not invited to be sadists and start going around looking for crosses to bear. Jesus himself did not have to seek the cross. If we turn to our inner selves and to our neighbors, we realize that crosses abound. Crosses will be provided, as Martin Luther saw so clearly when he wrote in his Freedom of the Christian that anyone who has a spouse or a family already has enough built-in crosses.
Every now and then we have to grapple with conditions of broken relationships, failure, sickness and material destitution. We are called to respond and follow the lead of Jesus. His message has nothing to do with plotting the way to success. Instead, he calls us to humbly and obediently give ourselves to others.
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