Several news organizations wrote articles which mentioned some of the statements which were made by Pope Benedict XVI’s on Sunday from Castel Gandolfo, Italy. His statements echoed Sunday’s Gospel and reminded us how difficult it is to live the Christian virtues. The difficulty of following Christ remains the same as when he was alive and many of his disciples left him.
Our lives today are filled many choices and distractions. How difficult can it be to live a life of love, compassion, and mercy? Is putting God first and trusting that frightening? I wonder if sometimes we forget how important the spirit is to our lives. The flesh and the pleasures of the flesh dominate our culture. The church reminds us that the spirit provides life.
Each time we pass a homeless person and do not have any feelings of compassion, we are moving away from God. Each time we think that abortion is an acceptable alternative, we are moving away from God.
Goodness is not fashionable. Living a life of Christian virtues is not fashionable. There are some things which are more important than the current fashions. Being unique opens us up to different experiences. Being Christian means understanding the dualities of our lives and our desires. Being Christian means living a life of social justice that is moral and ethical. Being Christian is often difficult with an ever growing list of distractions and diversions leading us away from God’s teachings.
Our faith in God can give us strength and hope.
At sometime in our lives all Christians are asked, “Do you also want to leave?” It is a refrain in our lives, that is always there, always a choice. But, there is another question which accompanies that one. At sometime in our lives all Christians are asked, “Why do you want to stay?”
How we answer these questions teach us about ourselves and our beliefs! We need to have God in our lives. We need goodness and hope in our lives and hearts. We need to have things in our lives which encourage and strengthen our faith.
Our lives should always reflect our belief in the words of eternal life which were given to us by Jesus Christ.
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