
Write the vision down, inscribe it on tablets

(Habakkuk 2. 2)
What is important in life is not what you
do
but why you do it.
The motive.
This principle applies also to our
religious
practices.
What is important is not the statistics
of
how many people come to church
but why they come.
The fact that many of us try to live
a good
life is not important,
we need to check why we do it.
May be I am wrong,
but it can happen
that a good number of us
go to novena, Mass, meetings, and make
sacrifices
not because we are interested in God
to show him how much we love him
and how grateful we are for all He
does for
us,
but maybe because we are afraid
or because we hope to get something
back
in return.
Since He has got the reins in his hands,
we better be quiet and try to please
him
lest he decides to send us some punishment.
After all you never know what you might
need
in life.
We shell out our masses, novenas, devotions
and we expect Him to keep his side
of the
bargain,
that he gives us a protected life
keeps us healthy,
gives us what we desire.
I gave you this much,
you give me that much.
If not now, at least hereafter.
But Jesus came to shatter this type
of religion.
He came to show us that
we do not need to earn God’s love.
We do not need to become good for God
to
love us.
Whatever we do, God keeps loving us
and keeps on pouring his blessings
on us.
God loves us
the way we are
gratuitously.
Nothing and no one can separate us
from the
love of God
shown to us in Christ Jesus.
Once Jesus Christ once went up on a
mountain
and he was transfigured there before
them.
He wanted to give us an idea of the
change
that takes place in us
when we start believing.
We are destined for BIG things.`
Those who believe, will change.
They start looking at God differently.
They start loving him without fearing
him.
They start looking at themselves differently.
They start noticing that though they
are
very weak,
they are exceptionally strong with
God.
They start looking at others differently.
They become aware that others are their
brothers,
redeemed by the same blood by which
they
were redeemed.
For those who believe everything changes.
They apprehend that the cross is made
of
wood, something that wears out
and comes to an end,
whilst the promised crown is glorious
and
remains forever.
They realize that Good Friday is just
one
day,
whilst Easter is forever.
Worries and concerns last one night,
whilst victory and courage are the
dawn that
never ends.
This is the great share that God has
given
us.
We Christians
are truly very lucky!
"For the fig tree is not to blossom,
nor will the vines bear fruit,
the olive crop will disappoint
and the fields will yield no food;
the sheep will vanish from the fold;
no cattle in the stalls.
But I shall rejoice in Yahweh,
I shall exult in God my Saviour.
Yahweh my Lord is my strength,
He will make my feet as light as a
doe’s,
And set my steps on the heights.”
(Habbakkuk 3.17-19)
(c) Fr. Pius Sammut, OCD. Permission
is
hereby granted for any non-commercial
use,
provided that the content is unaltered
from
its original state, if this copyright
notice
is included.
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