The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/080813.cfm) reminds me that it is important who God is to us.
Our God is a very personal God. To some he is the savior, to some the boss, to some redeemer, to some healer, so some friend, to some father. He is different to different people, and he is okay with that. He goes down to our level, to a level that will enable us to understand him, in a level we can relate to him. That is why in the gospel Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say that I am?” What other people think of and say about him is not as important as who you say Jesus is.
Just as It is important to have a personal relationship with God, it is also important to have a right relationship with him. You may have a personal realationship with him but treat him like an ATM or vendo machine – where you store up credits or good work, and demand that you get something you want out of what you gave him or what you have done. It ain’t right. We may call God a lot of things, but ultimately,like Peter, we should recognize that He is God, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Realizing who God is in our lives is the start of great things for us. Again in the gospel, when Peter answered correctly and Jesus was sure they really knew him already, he started to reveal himself more to them. He blessed Peter and told him what is in store for Him. However, we should not be overconfident. It is easy to be tempted and lose sight and focus in him. Peter, just after we see him being praised by Jesus, was called satan when he tried to get in the way of God’s plans. in the first reading we see Moses, after experiencing God’s love and power and despite having a personal relatinship with God, still disobeyed God and put the focus on himself. God just told him to command the rock to give water, but instead struck the rock with his staff to yield water. OF course water came out, but God was very displeased with his behavior, putting the focus on himself and not God.
May we strive to know who Jesus is and have an intimate and personal right relationship with Him, and strive to maintain it.
Father God,
Thank you for today. thank you for Thursday, the last day of the working week. Thank you for reminding me how important I am to you, how you want to have a personal and intimate relationship with you. Lord, I am sorry for the times I treat you like an atm, times when I feel you owe me things because of the good works I have done. Forgive me, Lord. May I see you the way you should be seen – my God. And as I strive to build a perosnal and intimate relationship with you, may my focus only be on you. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
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