IN TRUTH
It’s rare for a person to be able to live completely without ever considering the ultimate meaning of existence. As frivolous as the running of their days may be, sooner or later there come «moments of breaking» that can make spring forth in the person deep questions about the problem of life.
There are times of intense happiness that oblige us to ask ourselves why life isn’t always happy and full. Moments of disgrace that awaken in us dark thoughts: why so much suffering? Is it worth it to live? Instants of greater lucidity that lead us to fundamental questions: who am I? what is life? what’s ahead?
Sooner or later, one way or another, every person ends up considering someday the meaning of life. It all could stay there or could also awaken silently, but inevitably, the question of God. Thus our reactions can be very diverse.
There are those who for awhile now have abandoned, if not God, at least a world of things that had relation with God: the Church, the Sunday Mass, the dogmas. Little by little they have gotten rid of something that no longer is of any interest to them. With that whole religious world abandoned, what to do now in the face of the question of God?
Others have even abandoned the idea of God. They have no need of God. To them God seems like something useless and superfluous. God doesn’t give them anything positive. On the contrary, they have the impression that God would complicate their existence. They accept life as it is, and follow their path without being concerned excessively about the end.
Others go about wrapped up in uncertainty. They aren’t sure of anything: what does it mean to believe in God? How can one relate to God? Who knows anything about these things? Meanwhile, God doesn’t impose Self. No force from outside with proofs or evidence. God doesn’t reveal Self from within with lights or revelations. There’s just silence, opportunity, respectful invitation….
What’s foremost in the face of God is to be honest. Don’t walk about eluding God’s presence with hardly sincere concerns. Whoever makes the effort to seek God with honor and truth isn’t far from God. We mustn’t forget some of Jesus’ words that could illuminate whoever lives in religious uncertainty: «Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice».
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
