Thoughts on Christian Living
Being a Christian is the hardest thing that I have ever done. It is unlike any other challenge that I have faced. I have played competitive sports, served in the military, and even suffer from chronic illness, but none match up to the daily challenges of being a Christian.
I am sure that there are some who disagree with my contention, but being a Christian requires the daily carrying of a cross and following in the foot steps of our master, Jesus. This can be quite daunting because the world constantly stands at odds with Christian way of life.
The world puts forward expectations of pecuniary success and indulging in the self; whereas, Christianity is a faith that requires constant charity and love for one's neighbor. This means at any given moment we must be ready to discern the path we would like to take and cannot rely on the world for examples and guidance, but on Jesus, His Church, and Sacred Tradition.
The choice to reject worldliness, has often put me at odds with people. It has caused me to be rejected, ridiculed and misunderstood, but I guess I should not expect anything different from the way my Master was treated. This treatment is further compounded in an ever evolving modernistic society, which focuses on the ego and believe in absolute freedom, yet does not realize that freedom requires responsibility and that every decision has a consequence.
I cannot disagree with the position held by so many that society needs improvement, but dismantling its core values and tenets will hardly solve the issues at hand; rather, true charity is the answer. To truly love our neighbor as our self is the solution because if we love someone as our self then we will without a doubt treat them as our self and desire no harm or misfortune upon them. True charity will counter selfishness and the capitalistic pursuits which cause harm to our fellow man. Continuing with that line of thought, being truly charitable requires us also to speak to points which may enrage our brethren, but this is done out of love and not hatred. Actions such as these are done to fraternally correct a person who has gone astray and whose decisions are causing harm to them spiritually or physically.
It is natural that a person does not desire conflict or discomfort, and I am among those who does not enjoy strife; however, the Christian way of life requires a person to step beyond the comfort barrier in a way that really exposes their heart and it makes one vulnerable to attack. It is during that sharing of personal experiences that a person's true belief is shared and it is at those moments that a person can be injured deeply and ridiculed. Yet, we are called to nothing less as Christians than spreading the Gospel, sharing the faith and gathering souls for Christ.
Being a Christian is 24 hour/7 day a week job. We are never allowed to cease in our pursuit of perfection, nor put aside our morals and values for comfort of living. It is unlike any other vocation because we may be able to lie to people but we cannot lie to God. He knows all and sees all and it He who we serve by our daily actions.
Our thoughts on service to God should be exceptionally pronounced this week because we are fast approaching Good Friday and Easter, and it is during these days that we reflect deeply upon our Lord's Passion and Resurrection. It is during these days that we are given a sublime means by which to lead our life. Our Lord was given all the world could throw at him, torture, mockery, hatred and answers with love and humility. How much then should we be ready to suffer the slings and arrows of life and imitate Him, and through our embrace of the cross we will too rise to new life, life in Christ.
Many are called, but few are chosen. Let us lead Christian lives and rise the challenges of the world, conquering hatred with love, anger with meekness, tepidity with devotion. Let us choose to truly be Christians and not merely utter our belief in word, but in action and demonstration to the world. Let us imitate the Lord as His grace permits and change the world one soul at a time. Let us take the narrow and difficult path and seek Christ in all we do.
God bless you all.
I am sure that there are some who disagree with my contention, but being a Christian requires the daily carrying of a cross and following in the foot steps of our master, Jesus. This can be quite daunting because the world constantly stands at odds with Christian way of life.
The world puts forward expectations of pecuniary success and indulging in the self; whereas, Christianity is a faith that requires constant charity and love for one's neighbor. This means at any given moment we must be ready to discern the path we would like to take and cannot rely on the world for examples and guidance, but on Jesus, His Church, and Sacred Tradition.
The choice to reject worldliness, has often put me at odds with people. It has caused me to be rejected, ridiculed and misunderstood, but I guess I should not expect anything different from the way my Master was treated. This treatment is further compounded in an ever evolving modernistic society, which focuses on the ego and believe in absolute freedom, yet does not realize that freedom requires responsibility and that every decision has a consequence.
I cannot disagree with the position held by so many that society needs improvement, but dismantling its core values and tenets will hardly solve the issues at hand; rather, true charity is the answer. To truly love our neighbor as our self is the solution because if we love someone as our self then we will without a doubt treat them as our self and desire no harm or misfortune upon them. True charity will counter selfishness and the capitalistic pursuits which cause harm to our fellow man. Continuing with that line of thought, being truly charitable requires us also to speak to points which may enrage our brethren, but this is done out of love and not hatred. Actions such as these are done to fraternally correct a person who has gone astray and whose decisions are causing harm to them spiritually or physically.
It is natural that a person does not desire conflict or discomfort, and I am among those who does not enjoy strife; however, the Christian way of life requires a person to step beyond the comfort barrier in a way that really exposes their heart and it makes one vulnerable to attack. It is during that sharing of personal experiences that a person's true belief is shared and it is at those moments that a person can be injured deeply and ridiculed. Yet, we are called to nothing less as Christians than spreading the Gospel, sharing the faith and gathering souls for Christ.
Being a Christian is 24 hour/7 day a week job. We are never allowed to cease in our pursuit of perfection, nor put aside our morals and values for comfort of living. It is unlike any other vocation because we may be able to lie to people but we cannot lie to God. He knows all and sees all and it He who we serve by our daily actions.
Our thoughts on service to God should be exceptionally pronounced this week because we are fast approaching Good Friday and Easter, and it is during these days that we reflect deeply upon our Lord's Passion and Resurrection. It is during these days that we are given a sublime means by which to lead our life. Our Lord was given all the world could throw at him, torture, mockery, hatred and answers with love and humility. How much then should we be ready to suffer the slings and arrows of life and imitate Him, and through our embrace of the cross we will too rise to new life, life in Christ.
Many are called, but few are chosen. Let us lead Christian lives and rise the challenges of the world, conquering hatred with love, anger with meekness, tepidity with devotion. Let us choose to truly be Christians and not merely utter our belief in word, but in action and demonstration to the world. Let us imitate the Lord as His grace permits and change the world one soul at a time. Let us take the narrow and difficult path and seek Christ in all we do.
God bless you all.
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