There is a Latin term, “Do ut des,” which means “I give so that you may give.” Discipleship is not about “I scratch your back, you scratch my back.” It is not about giving in order to receive, or giving in order to gain something.
What is discipleship, then? Discipleship in Christianity means having the immense capacity to give, even if we do not receive anything in return. Discipleship for those of us who believe in Christ and love Christ does not depend on what we will receive in return.
This may seem obvious, but sometimes our motivation can be spiritual but not very pure. We go to Mass and obey the commandments because we want to go to heaven. Is that right?
Some of us think that by serving the poor, going to Mass, going to confession, and praying the rosary, we will be able to go to heaven. Isn’t that a form of spiritual prostitution, or spiritual commercialism, as if we were buying our way into heaven?
You go to Mass now because God has given you the energy, the time, and the strength to share in the Eucharist. Whether you go to heaven after receiving the Eucharist does not matter anymore. What matters is that God has given you the opportunity, so take it. God has given you the opportunity to serve the poor, so take it. Whether the poor say thank you, whether you are rewarded, or whether you are recognized does not matter to you. What matters is that you have the energy, so use it.
We have the energy to love, and it must be used. Whether we are loved back or appreciated should not matter very much. Our life as Christians does not depend on “Do ut des.” Our life as Christians depends on our infinite, limitless capacity to love. We must love without counting the cost.
Let us now remember and acknowledge the rewards that we think we deserve for doing good: the reward of heaven, the reward of friendship, the reward of good influence, and the reward of power. Let us offer to the Lord these rewards that we think we deserve, and let us tell the Lord, “Lord, we have only done our duty. We have only given you what we think we can give. Accept this, Lord, and through it, may this be our sufficient joy.”
DO UT DES
1Kgs 21:1-16
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