What keeps us from being closer to God?
What prevents us from receiving his special blessings of joy and peace and love?
What stops us from relying totally on God’s will to direct our ways and our course through life.
St Paul says there is nothing external to us that can keep us from the love of God.
Not the wind or cold or fire. Not even angels. Or what came before or will be. Nothing and no one.
But there is one person who can stop us. And that is us. Only we can stop God’s love from coming into our hearts when we have stony hearts. Hearts that will not let go of other loves like pleasure or security of the world, or money and others or possessions.
Sometimes we are kept from the love of God from distractions from external things though because we allow it. We allow yourselves to surf the internet. Spend hours each day on social media. Maybe communicating to strangers online instead of people in our life. around us.
This is the evil one’s favorite tool now. Better than a ouija board at pulling souls into danger and being misled by demons. The internet is the devil’s playground and his demons are master of chaos, sewing discontent, leading to sin and distraction. It’s up to us to live a purposeful life as disciples and ask ourselves what am I doing and is it the best use for my time as a Christian? As a worker? As a member of the kingdom of God?!?
Sometimes we allow ourselves to be lazy. To do nothing to grow or challenge us to seek God more. We believe the lie that we don’t matter to God. We believe lies that tell us we are good and don’t need to be at mass or confession or truly seek a relationship with the God who loves us. Yes, it is only ourselves that can stop the love of God for he will not force his love upon us.
St Paul was right. There is nothing that can stop the love of God. Except for the one who chooses not to receive that love.
Life on earth is short. It is more a travel destination for us rather than our home. When we travel to see other places our goal is to learn as much about the place by visiting sites and buildings or beautiful mountains or oceans. To experience the distant land we find ourselves on for vacation. I used to work in a job where I traveled the world and have been to most countries. My job was clear and goals for the trip were clear from my corporate leaders. I often didn’t get to spend time in each country no matter how beautiful or interesting and most fall in those categories.
But our trip to this earth has a purpose and a goal and our Lord has sent her on mission.
Instead of sitting around watching tv or the internet in our room we are called to share the love of God with others. Make sure they know the good news.
We aren’t here to sit all day looking at the scenery. Or stuff ourselves with tasty food all day. We aren’t here to pass our time on recreation or sunbathing.
We are here to be Christ for others. To say yes to the love of God and love others. Our mission is to grow as close to God as possible. To be saints. And then to light up the world with his message of love. So our brothers and sisters know their Father loves them too.
This is no vacation for us here on earth.
This is an assignment. We are expected to get ourselves and others home like Christ did for us.
Did we understand the assignment?
Deacon Tony Pynes 
Leave a comment