Our Lives Point to Something Greater

Many people in history as well as today had come together, standing united for or against something or someone.  Let's take the marches that took place during the Civil Rights Movement when people from different religious, ethnic, and societal backgrounds came together and stood together united for the fight to have all people share the rights guaranteed by our Constitution.  More prominently in the Catholic world, since Roe v. Wade, people, not only Catholics, have gathered together to stand against abortion and standing for life - all life and at all stages.  Even more recently in Hong Kong, people - Christian, non-Christian, came together to stand against a piece of legislative amendment (the Extradition bill) that would transfer fugitives to the Mainland China, putting human rights activists, religious freedom activists, journalists, and others in harm's way.  Amidst the protests, Christians came together and began to sing "Sing Hallelujah to the Lord" for hours.  These people came together because their consciences told them that was was happening and could potentially happen was unjust, inhumane, and dangerous.  They came together not for themselves, but for something bigger, something greater.  They came together to stand for what was true, good, and beautiful.  They came together to stand for the Truth.  

St. John the Baptist was the child gifted to Elizabeth and Zechariah.  But he was also gifted to humanity.  He was the "Herald of the Messiah" and the last prophet, the one who proclaimed the coming of Jesus and prepared the people and the way for Him.  His entire life was one of preparation for someone greater.  "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.  I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.  He will baptize you with the holy spirit and fire" (Lk. 3:16).  John the Baptist's life as he indicated was all for someone else, someone greater, someone "mightier."  He lived his life for someone greater and mightier.  He lived his life for Jesus, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the Son of God, and the One who will die for the sake of our salvation.  John the Baptist's life points to something greater - it points to Christ.

Our lives too point to something greater than ourselves.  All that we say, do, and think all (should) reflect something outside of ourselves, something and someone greater than ourselves.  Parents live their lives for their children out of love.  Couples live their lives for each other, working towards the sanctification of the other.  Truly happy and joyful people live their lives out of love, for love, and in loving service of others.  Parents sacrifice for their children and for one another because they love them.  We are willing to do things for people we care and love even if it means sacrificing something.  We do it because there is something in our hearts that tell us "It's worth it.  He or she is worth it.  They are worth it."  John the Baptist willingly preached the coming of Christ to the dismay of the Pharisees and religious officials.  Jesus and all that He is, does, and will do is so entirely worth it to John the Baptist that he was willing to die for Him.  To John, his life was not meant to be lived for himself, and that was what made it so special.  He epically said "He must increase; I must decrease" (Jn. 3:30).  He understood well that his life pointed to someone greater - the Messiah, and so all that he did, thought, and said all pointed to that truth and reality.   

All that we do, say, and think should reflect the truth and the ultimate reality.  And what is the ultimate reality, you ask?  The ultimate reality is that we are loved.  We are loved not because of what we do, say, or think.  We exist because we are loved.  People think they will be loved more and more if what they do, say, or think pleases others.  But that is all reversed.  Because we know that we are loved, all that we do, say, or think should reflect this love and the One who loves us.  And so, our lives, which are lives of love, truly do then point to something greater, someone greater.  Our lives point to God, the One who loves us.

Let us live our lives in a way that truly points to the truth and the ultimate reality - God, Love, and Our Father.  

Father, thank you for loving me.  Teach me to believe and know that I am loved.  Grant me the grace to live my life reflecting that love, your glory, a love that does not fade or pass away, but rather a love that endures and that is eternal.  

The Virgin and the Child with Saints Elizabeth, John the Baptist, and Catherine by Simon Vouet


     

Comments

  1. John HoJune 25, 2019 at 11:07 AM

    While people could have come together for the right cause, but not all of them do the right things. They can speak of the most highly remarkable ideal, but their action can be of the lowest form of disorder, profanity, violence and disrespect of one and another. The outward behavior exhibits the subtle motives more than by words and promises.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A beloved sonJune 25, 2019 at 5:43 PM

    What we do should match what we say and think. The good person, the virtuous person, the Christian person speaks, thinks, and lives on the Truth. No trace of hypocrisy or duplicity can be present, otherwise who we are becomes compromised because we will have lost our integrity. This is when our minds begin to torture us - when our conscience is working overtime because our bodies are not doing what our minds and hearts know to do.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Prodigal Son and Our Belovedness in the Father, Part I

Selections from Part I of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Younger son (YS) – “give me” mentality, I deserve my inheritance, it belongs to me – I take; “The son is as impatient as the father was kind” (Peter Chrysologus).   (Grasping and grabbing)   Really saying to the Father:  “I wish you were dead.”  It is usually only when someone dies that we receive inheritance. Imagine what takes place during those few days before the son leaves.   When the son leaves and sets off to a distant country, he is not only leaving home, but he is leaving himself.   He wishes to leave his identity behind.   He wants to be his own person.   How often are we tempted by this?   “Be somebody” the world tells us.   Somebody powerful, rich, and famous.   Be somebody.   We are already somebody.   We are God’s beloved.   Each one of us.   We are loved by the Father from all eternity.   “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”   Apart from his father, he has no identity.   By leavin
Read more

The Prodigal Son and Our Belovedness in the Father, Part II

Selections from Part II of a talk I gave on the Parable of the Prodigal Son Part II: The Encounter – Reconciliation and Communion “His father caught sight of him.”   What was the father doing all this time?   When the son petitioned to leave, the Father did not plead and cling on to the son.   He lets him go, not because he did not love him.   But because the Father loved him.   In loving him, the Father allowed the son to act in freedom and exercise his free will.   The father said, “Okay, here is your share.   If you want to, you can go.   I will not stop you. The world is not pretty.   It can only offer you temporary comfort and happiness.   You can go, but know that when you go, you will experience pain and suffering.   You will experience a profound sense of loss and lacking.   You will be hurt.   You will be rejected.   But you can go.   Go, but know that this will always be your home.   You may already have your share of the inheritance that should come to you when I die
Read more

People of One Heart and Mind

The portrait painted about the early Church by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles was one that expressed unity and communion.  We are told that "the community of believers was of one heart and mind" (Acts 4:32).  Then we are given a description of how they had put that "one heart and mind" into action - by sharing their time, talent, and treasure.  They were able to do so because they had one mission and were One in the Father. Are we a people of one heart and one mind?  This means do we have God in our hearts?  Do we root our identity and all that we do in the Father and His love?  Then we must ask do we see our mission as one.  The mission Jesus gave to His disciples was to proclaim the Good News to all nations and creatures.  This Good News is the Resurrection.  This Good News is the hope of eternal life.  This Good News is the ransom paid for our freedom from slavery to sin.  This Good News is the love of the Father.  To carry out this mission in proclaimi
Read more

When Jesus Descended into Hell

Image
"Cercate il Suo Volto" is Italian for "Seek His Face" (see Ps. 27:8). I first heard of the Italian phrase from the "Abba Pater" album by Pope John Paul II.  It was the first track of the album.  My high school Junior Theology teacher had introduced me to it and gave me a copy of it.  I am very grateful to him because it opened up for me a more in-depth interest, studying of, and reading of the Scriptures.  And, of course listening to the Pope recite it with inspiring and motivational music in the background made it all the better (not that the Word itself isn't good enough, but you know what I mean!).  Anyways, so why am I bringing this verse from Psalm 27 up?  "Seek His Face." On Holy Thursday we read in the Gospel that Jesus gave the Apostles an example of humble service and true leadership.  To serve is to lead, with love at its core.  On Good Friday we read the Passion Narrative where we hear Our Lord cry in fulfillment of the prophec
Read more

"It is I" - The Three Words that Casts Out All Fear

Image
After a long day, the disciples went ahead of Jesus, sailing to Capernaum.  The winds were blowing, and the skies were dark.  After sailing out a good distance, they saw Jesus walking on water and they began to fear and grow afraid.  At this Jesus said to them, " It is I.  Do not be afraid ." When I read and listen to this Gospel passage I am always reminded of incidences where parents or nurses trying to distract the child as pediatricians are trying to administer vaccinations.  The child is scared and anxious, afraid of the pain that the needle will induce and confused as to who these people are.  But the parent or a kind stranger offers comfort, a smile, or a funny story or joke.  Sometimes even a tasty treat.  All while the pediatrician pinches the child with the needle, injecting a solution that can potentially prevent the child from danger.  When all is done sometimes the child doesn't even remember a shot was administered and sometimes he realized and felt the pa
Read more