(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)