Dear St. Theresa family,
My father left me with a lexicon of sayings that will stay with me for the rest of my life. For instance, I was looking for a bottle of ketchup in the refrigerator and couldn’t find it and I asked for his help. Throwing down the newspaper he stamped into the kitchen, shoved aside two things in the ice box, picked up the bottle and gave it to me saying: “If it had been a snake it would have bit you!” Meaning that whatever I needed was obvious and right in front of me but because of my carelessness I missed it.
We have all had similar experiences. But when it comes to the thing that we most want in life, that kind of carelessness can prevent us from experiencing what God wants for us and ultimately, we want for ourselves. We have all heard this from the Gospel: “If you keep my commandments…your joy will be complete.”
God’s commandments are given so that we may have freedom and joy. And, while we know this and they are in front of us, we tend to look past them. We have a deep desire but fail to see the answer right in front of us. Here they are just as the Bible gives them to us.
- I am the Lord your God and I am a jealous God. You shall have no other gods before me.
- You shall not make for yourselves any idols.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not murder
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
- You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or goods.
It’s simple and obvious and certainly no secret. It’s a quid pro quo in which we faithfully observe and follow all these commandments, without alteration or interpretation with the result that we have complete freedom. And with that freedom comes complete joy. If our joy is lacking something, maybe we’re just not seeing clearly the obvious and it’s time to call on our Father to come help us look…
Grace and peace,
Fr. Larry