When was the las time that you were looking for a particular address and had to stop a stranger on the street and ask for directions?
Some of our new developments have streets, lanes, alleys and roads in the same corner. How do I find the right one? From time to time, we need a helpful person to point us in the correct direction.
This season of Lent is a moment to see that all parts of our Christiaan faith lead in only one direction. Religion is not about doing the right things: i.e., ‘see what a good person I am by what I do!” Religion is not about feeling good and secure. Religion is not a power-trip to make us feel successful.
Simply put: the closer we draw toward God, the closer we will draw to our fellow human being. What was the name of the Russian writer who said: “that to love another human being is to see the face of God”?
Prayer should never be about manipulating and pressuring the divine to bend to our biding. Prayer is opening our own lives to the heartbeat of God. We want to be shaped, strengthened by the love and compassion of God.
God is always a God who is self-giving. When we pray we share in the outpouring of the love of God. If we are sharing in the divine life; we will become self-giving as God is self-giving.
Religion is life in friendship with the divine life and power. Understand this beginning from a very human level. Healthy human friendship influence, shape and challenge each other. A good friend always become a part of our own life and personality.
Now, what happens when God becomes a part of your personality, your life and values?
A beautiful sign is the food donations that so many of our parishioners bring for the food bank. Grocery prices are very high for anyone on a fixed income. Every donation arises out of a nudge from God to bring your struggling fellow human being into your circle of concern.
The respect that so many of our nursing personnel bring to the care of the elderly is remarkable. They could do they job of feeding, moving and cleaning up people with their dementia but they are patient, gentle and respectful with the feeble elderly. There is a touch of God right here in this wheel chair!
It is also remarkable how many Church people are involved in the Meals on Wheels program. They volunteer their time and friendship to bring meals to so many elderly shut-ins. Is this not another unspoken grace of God in action?
A lived religious faith does make a difference. Our Christian faith is never centered on the self, but rather sharing the out-pouring of God. And God is so magnificently generous; and so generous we become when we share the divine heart!
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