DO YOU KNOW GOD? (Homily for May 10, 2016. Monday of the 7th Week of Easter).

Bible Study: Acts 20, 17 to 27 and John 17, 1 to 11.


Yesterday we looked at joy as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Today we shall be considering Knowledge of God as another gifts of the Holy Spirit. We continue our novena to the Holy Spirit asking for this precious gift of knowing God better.

Both our first reading and Gospel passage this morning are set in a rather sad tone of departure; Paul is departing the region of Asia after spending some time planting the Gospel in that land while Jesus having just concluded a powerful sermon is praying to the Father on our behalf mentioning that “and now I am no more in the world… and I am coming to you.”

As the saying goes, whatever has a beginning must also have an end. The departure of Paul and Jesus reminds us of the fact that we shall also bid farewell not only to our friends and colleagues from time to time and but someday to this very world as well. Departure time always carries a lot of emotions, if you have been to an airport to watch family members and friends bid goodbye to their loved ones travelling, you would surely have a feeling of what I am talking about. Very often you see tears flowing freely and you almost wish the journey would just be cancelled.

Tears are much especially when there are certain things that were supposed to have been done or said but were forgotten, skipped or glossed over. In the same way, nothing is as painful as reaching your departure time only to realize that you forgot certain vital and important things. That is why preparing for a journey is more important than the journey itself.

Since this world is not our own, how do we properly prepare ourselves for the world beyond? By living in a manner that brings glory to God. THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE; THAT THEY KNOW YOU THE ONE TRUE GOD AND JESUS CHRIST WHOM YOU HAVE SENT. We don’t get to heaven first before we start enjoying eternal life, it begins right here on earth by getting to know God. You do not get to your destination before packing your luggage, the moment you pack, then you are good to go but by not packing, you cannot even move a step. To pack here is to Know God.

What does it mean to Know God? Is it by getting a Ph.D in theology? Far from it! We often hear people say things like, “you don’t even know me at all.” Knowing a person is more than merely knowing his or her name or how they look like. Knowing a person is being able to step into that person’s inner world, understanding what he or she likes, understanding their deepest interests, their background, their potentials and virtually everything beyond the surface. You cannot know a person unless you enter into a relationship with that person. Even couples never get to know who their spouses really are until after several years of marriage and living with each other.

We cannot survive on a mere superficial knowledge of God. We need an encounter with God; a life changing encounter such as that which Paul had on his way to Damascus. Paul’s life was totally changed to the point that he considered his life completely useless save for the fact that he preached the Gospel. BUT I DO NOT ACCOUNT MY LIFE OF ANY VALUE NOT AS PRECIOUS TO MYSELF IF ONLY I MAY ACCOMPLISH MY COURSE AND THE MINISTRY WHICH I RECEIVED FROM THE LORD JESUS.

You would know if you really know God when you reach a point that you can say with St. Paul, “To be alive is meaningless if my life does not give glory to God.” you would know if you have encountered God if you stop pursuing after material and perishable things such as money, prestige, latest cars, houses, power etc. but consider all of such as secondary, not important.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and that I may know you and understand the very purpose of my existence.

God bless you. Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.




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