I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you, I lead you in the way that you must go. If only you had been alert to my commandments, your happiness would have been like a river
I had a wonderful conversation with a Religious Education School Teacher at Church this Fall in September. We just had a wonderful conversation. I am sure I bored her, but I had fun. She was explaining how the School taught children the parts of the Mass and she had a display with a mini alter. I bragged a bit on how I once taught RCIC (Right of Christian Initiation for Children). We gradually came to the commandments. I explained how I had come to the realization that the Ten Commandments were God’s way of telling us that He loves us. We agreed that this was a unique way of looking at the Ten Commandments.
God knows what makes us truly happy. He made us to be happiest when we follow His commandments. He loves us so much He only wants us to love him before all other gods. Words are important and doesn’t want us to use because of the power of His name in vain. He wants us to love our parents and take care of them when they are old. He doesn’t want us to hate or kill. He doesn’t want us to steal. He provides and we don’t need the stuff that others have because it won’t make us happy. Marriage is important. He doesn’t want us to commit adultery because it destroys a marriage. Sexual love is not desert but an act of bonding and intimacy that is reserved for Marriage.
‘For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet wisdom has been proved right by her actions.’ Jesus is clearly frustrated. People didn’t listen at the time of Jesus’ journey on earth, and we are not listening today. That is why we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is the second-best Sacrament. The first being the Eucharist. ” Yet wisdom has been proved right by her actions.’
Yes!
What surprises me and shouldn’t is that after all this time, the People of God still do not follow the will of God. When John the Baptist and Jesus were declaring is still going on today. It seems that every generation makes the same mistakes and suffers from them. Unfortunately, future generations will in all likelihood make the same mistakes. The answer is repentance.
The gift of true happiness and peace is to follow the Commandments as best we can. When we fail. We repent.
We repeat!
I believe I shall see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:13-14) We can enjoy the Lord’s goodness on Earth by doing what He says because our bodies and souls are designed to be happy that way.
True happiness is discovering that God loves us and that the only way to experience His love for us is to follow the Commandments. This is how He made us. Anything else leads to failure, sin and a great deal of heartache.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for children everywhere who are suffering. Pray for peace!
