Christianity is the single most important event in the history of the human race. It has given us an understanding of who we are as human beings. We are children of God and heirs to Eternal Life with God.
Through its older sister, Judaism, Christianity has come to know that there is one God. This one God has created the world as a reflection of his goodness. The man and the woman are the Crown of that creation and bear a re- semblance to the Creator like no other creature in the universe.
In Jesus Christ we come to know our purpose in life here on earth (to love God and our neighbor as ourselves). And by his Resurrection we know that in Christ we are called to be with God forever.
This astounding fact has set us FREE. We have broken the chains of the primeval world. Previous powers enslaved us. Idolatry, superstition (no more rabbit’s foot!), and magic have been shown for what they are nothing.
Christianity’s grasp of reality has changed the world. Such things as democracy, universities, science and scientific method, medicine, modern art (realism), farming, and charity toward the poor all have their inspiration from Christ’s invitation to seek the Truth. Jesus tells us “Obey my teaching and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31
Freedom gives life meaning . . . either good or bad . . . depending on us.
We need to be careful. All is not well yet. In spite of over 2000 years of Christianity, the world is still in process. The wound dealt to God’s creation by the free disobedience of the human race continues to affect every one of us.
And the wound? A hunger for autonomy from God, a desire to be free from any norm that requires my obedience. We all have this. Call it what you want, “my bad self”, “selfishness”, “the rebel in me”. Faith calls it the “original sin” . . . in you and me and the world.
Anyone over six years of age has experienced this strange and intoxicating desire. Most of us learn the hard way; we follow these impulses toward pleasure, excitement, and selfgratification till we discover that their promise of happiness was a lie.
So how do we get it right? The first thing we need to do (and if this doesn’t happen we’re lost!) is realize we have this rebel in us. (Please tell me you’ve met this part of yourself right? That rebel . . . you!). It shows itself in a “me first” way of looking at life. It starts small, and seems harmless, but if left unimpeded, it will create a world of its own, separate from God who gives us life.
We’re going to need some help here. We can’t heal the tendency we have to seek our own world unbothered by the duties of loving.
Here’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. He frees us from ourselves, knowing that in Christ, we have our hearts de- sire. It’s all there is Sacred Scripture.
“The Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God’s children . . . and since we are his children we will possess with Christ what God has kept for him.” “For there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:17, 39.
Happy New Year.
God is with you.
Fr. Tim
