Activism and the Temptation to Misuse God’s Authority
Before you begin: Please read the Introduction — How to Practice the Gospel Exercises
Reflection on (Luke 12:13–14)
Prayer
Holy Spirit, please come into my heart and enlighten my mind. Grant me wisdom and courage to discern God’s will in every situation. Help me act with love, humility, and truth, so that I may not fall into selfishness or stubbornness, but allow myself to be guided by Your light. Teach me when to keep silent and when to speak, when to yield and when to persevere, so that everything I do may be for God’s glory and the good of others.
Amen.
Reflection
We often encounter the idea that through our own effort and activism we can create on earth a world that faithfully reflects the kingdom of heaven. Yet here lies a subtle temptation: we begin to confuse our goals with God’s plan, even trying to “use” God or His authority to fulfill our own notions of justice. We see an example of this in Luke 12:13–14, where a man approaches Jesus, asking Him to settle a dispute over inheritance. He expects Jesus to take the role of judge and decide in his favor. His thinking is clear: surely God cares about justice, so let Him confirm that I am right.
But Jesus responds unexpectedly: “Man, who appointed me as your judge or arbitrator?” (Luke 12:14). In other words: “I am not here to fulfill your expectations or to achieve your seemingly just goals, but to lead you to the Father and to His kingdom.” Jesus shows that He did not come to serve our ambitions, but to call us to a new life where God’s kingdom first transforms and shapes our hearts. The kingdom of heaven is not the result of human effort or manipulation, but a gift that comes from the Lord.
The Temptation of Activism
This passage shows how easily we can fall into the temptation to “sanctify” our own agendas and turn God into a tool to confirm our truth. The man who addresses Jesus is convinced he is fighting for a just cause—after all, it’s about an inheritance to which he has a legal right. But he forgets that Christ did not come to solve superficial disputes; He came to bring an entirely new perspective on life and human relationships.
God Brings the Kingdom
We often think that through sheer willpower or righteous indignation we can transform the world into God’s kingdom. Yet only God Himself can truly bring it forth—in us and around us. Our activism can easily become a means of pursuing our own aims and slip into self-assertion. Even when we fight for noble causes, if humility and God’s perspective are missing, we risk spreading our own opinions instead of His truth.
Cooperating with God
This does not mean that we should withdraw from public life or give up striving for justice. God calls us to bring love, mercy, and truth into society. The key question is whether we see Christ as a means to achieve our goals, or whether we allow ourselves to become instruments of His will. If we humbly open ourselves to His guidance, He will lead us to right decisions, transform our activism into true service to others, and show us that the deepest transformation begins in the heart—not in laws or regulations.
Conclusion
From the Gospel story (Luke 12:13–14) we learn that if we truly want to involve God in our plans, we must first be ready to accept His view of the situation. It is not enough to “claim” Jesus and say: “Lord, be the judge in my case and prove that I am right.” The true kingdom of God is not the work of human effort, but a gift received in faith and humility. Let our striving, our engagement, and our activism always be sanctified by a sincere search for God’s will—so that we do not fall into the illusion that we can establish His reign by our own power. Only God Himself brings forth the heavenly kingdom—and we are invited to cooperate with Him, not to possess it.
Discernment
Let us reflect on our own actions and on situations where we may have fallen into this temptation—when our activism came into conflict with the Gospel. Think of moments when we were angered by the behavior of others—whether serious injustices (like disputes over inheritance, political corruption, unfairness at work or in business) or everyday irritations: someone cutting in line at the doctor, parking inconsiderately, running a red light, being rude in traffic or on the bus. Our anger in such moments is natural, yet if we decide to “restore justice,” even in thought or deed, and justify it by invoking God, we find ourselves at odds with the Gospel.
Instead, let us recall these situations and try to love those involved. With love like Christ’s, let us look upon them and respond in that same love—then we will see what solutions love itself reveals. Let it not be anger, but love, that shows us the way to deal with such moments.
Resolution
In the coming week, let us pay attention to such situations and try to apply the loving perspective of Jesus.
If we sense that we will soon face difficult situations—at work, in the family, at offices, or in daily life—let us resolve not to act merely from emotion or a desire for our own justice. Let us consciously refrain from reactions that would contradict the Gospel. Instead, let us seek God’s will in those moments and pray that we may bring more peace, love, and forgiveness into every situation.
Prayer
Our Father…