The allure of the promise of summer sunshine is tempered by
sunglasses, wind, and rain.
The blinders of friends, the winds of society, and the pull
of the gravity of cultural politics make walking into the sunshine on a
straight and narrow path difficult.
The path also has deep ditches on either side: the law on
one side and my personal “feel good” wants and desires on the other. And the
blinders, the winds and gravity make it very easy to be pulled into the ditches
of “the law says it’s okay” or “it must be okay, because I feel happy.”
And it is difficult to climb up out of the ditch and change
when we fall off the path. But that is what we are promised by Christ’s cross,
by Scripture, by Church teachings and thru the lives of the Saints. We are
reminded that we won’t necessarily “feel good” while striving for God’s kingdom,
but that we can change and get back on the path and that we can be forgiven for stepping off.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be
comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are
they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed
are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you
when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you
[falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they
persecuted the prophets who were before you. Mt 5: 3-12
Do we fall off the
path because the sun that is guiding us is shadowed by the beliefs of our friends
and neighbors who say “it’s right because everyone is doing it?” Do we use slang
words that are a common part of our language but that are sexually suggestive
(taking God’s name in vain), by taking what is not rightfully ours from others or
our workplace, such as tools and office supplies etc. (stealing), or by accepting
that it is okay to live together before marriage and to have sex outside of
marriage (fornication/adultery).
Are we pulled away
from the sun by the gravity of laws that are passed by the powers and the principalities?
Does our business set unreasonable prices because the government can afford it,
the $468 hammer (free enterprise), does our government allow the union of same
sex partners as marriage (equality), and do we shut our eyes against the evils
of abortion (freedom to choose)? Is law setting its own path of promise and side-stepping
God’s design for humanity, marriage and His commandments (stealing and killing)?
Or is the straight
and narrow path dulled by the rain of the tears of pain? Often we will be asked
to embrace suffering and accept grief. Rain can either wash us off the path in
anger and blame or cleanse and clear the path through acceptance and
forgiveness.
The ultimate
reward is at the end of God’s path…. “Son”shine in heaven….priceless!!
"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and
mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become
joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but
when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because
of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in
anguish. But I will see you again, and
your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. Jn 16: 20-22
Heavenly Father the joy you promise is unending. Help me to
search for and to strive to live by Your truth. Thank you for giving me living
examples, like Mary and the Saints (Saint Paul, Saint Francis, Mother Teresa,
and many more) for they inspire me to know that I can change, be forgiven and
survive human suffering (just as Christ did) and reach your unending joy in
heaven. Amen.
Will we step off to the side of the path, fall into the
ditches of law, and blindly fall into the depths of the acceptance of cultural
evil and sin? Or will we walk the straight and very narrow difficult path,
following the allure of His son who shined thru gravity, wind and rain by
speaking the truth, accepting our sufferings and showing us how to live
righteously?
God’s promise is that His path will lead us to a joy that no one can take away.
May you be filled with the Spirit to stay on His path and
search for that joy,Blessings,
Charlotte
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