“TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY”. This thought kept lingering in my mind for the past few days. So I asked myself: “How should I put this thought into practice in my life? The answer came to me as I was praying a Concluding Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours.
The Prayer was: “Father, may everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your saving help. Let our work always find its origin in you and through you reach completion. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.” (Psalter, Week I, Monday, Morning Prayer)
This prayer makes God a pervading Presence in every moment of my life. In everything I do I should always begin with a prayer asking God for his enlightenment or inspiration, and his continuous assistance until its final fulfillment.
It seems to be a very simple formula to follow. I realize, however, that it takes a constant effort to live in the Presence of God. As I am now writing this article, I indeed started with a Prayer. But as I was groping for the words to write, my mind was so much focused on what to tell and somehow the consciousness of God’s presence was relegated to the background.
This experience is telling me that to take God seriously and live continuously in His Presence is a GRACE which God bestows on those who earnestly pray for it. It is something that man cannot do by his own human efforts. Man has to realize that he is a limited being with limited capacities. God, on the other hand, is an INFINITE BEING, the SUPREME BEING in this world. So man, with his limited capacities cannot simply reach out to an Infinite Being. It is in God’s infinite Goodness that He bestows this grace of enabling man to reach out to Him. Man, therefore, has to humbly acknowledge his complete dependence on God in order to have a loving personal relationship with Him.
The Mystery of INCARNATION, is, I believe, God’s way of bestowing this Grace to Mankind. He allowed His only begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST, to become Man, so that we, men, could participate in the Divine Life of God and each one may become like Him, a Child of God.
TO TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY is an earnest desire of mine. I have to humbly acknowledge, however, that this is a GRACE which God may bestow on me in His infinite Goodness as He pleases. It is something I do not merit. I can only put myself in God’s hands and trust in His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 25, 2010
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