Love God, and Do What You Want
(St. Augustine)
What can be said to one
who justifies sin –
whatever the sin –
and casts a jaundiced
eye
at Scripture’s threat
of
eternal judgment
that awaits
the persistently
rebellious?
I’ve concluded
nothing can be said
to such a one
who loves the sin
more than God.
As Christ said:
“Light
has come into the world,
and
men loved the darkness
rather
than the Light,
for their
deeds were evil.”
“Everyone
who does evil
hates
the Light,
and
does not come
to
the Light
for
fear his deeds
will
be exposed.”*
So I now counsel such as those
after the wisdom of tutors
such as Jesuit
Fr. Pedro Arrupe:
“Fall in love with
God.
What you are in love
with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.”
“It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read,
whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
what amazes you with joy and gratitude.”
“Fall in love with God,” he said.
“Stay in love.
And it will decide everything.”
To live in persistent sin or not
is really reduced
to the simplest of questions:
“Whom will we love more –
our Creator, Savior and Friend –
Or ourselves”?
*John
3:19-20
5 comments:
"one who loves the sin more than God."
In class every year I tell the kids my problem is that I love myself more than I love God.
There you have the heart of the matter.
Christian, for all of us, I suspect that is the primary problem.
Barb, yes that is the heart of the problem. So why does it take so long to finally learn it -- at least at an intellectual level(?)
It's sometimes difficult to realize that love is a much more powerful motivator than fear. "Fall in love with God" these words and those of St. Augustine show a real relationship. Jesus wants our hearts.
Andie
Thanks for commenting, Andie. That's what we are all trying to do . . . love Jesus better and better.
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