Wednesday, 5 October 2016
WHY YOU SHOULD GAZE HEAVENWARDS
HEAVENLY
GAZE
“If
you were raised with Christ, seek what is above” Colossians
3:1
With joy I welcome you all to this inspirational
reflection written by Christian Mario Ukaegbu. I encourage and enjoin you to
enjoy as deep spiritual encounter as you read on.
Today most people find this way of life
difficult, it remains unacceptable for us because we desire only to live in
this life and not in the life to come. Indeed many of us have lost the sense of
eternal life and instead bask ourselves with the ephemeral values of this
earthly world.
It is crucial to follow the footsteps of Christ
but this requires our conversion and acceptance of His message (Gospel) which
gives us a whole pattern of living. The book of Ecclesiastes 1:2 reminds us
that, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity”. This statement is clearly visible in
all we do and so many of us can attest to this because in our daily
undertakings we realize that nothing has value expect that which lasts for
eternity. This is indeed the Christian virtue of detachment.
It
is important to note that Christian detachment does not take away the value of
earthly realities but rather keeps us aware and focus on the things to come.
If we set our hearts on career.If we hope on riches.If we hope on and care about our properties.
All these are indeed wonderful, if only they help
us to show love to one another (God’s love and love of neighbor) and also if we
use the realities of these world to embrace the realities of the world to come.
Then the realities of this world is activated because it is now useful and
beneficial to our neighbors.
The book of Ecclesiastes continues to remind us
that everything in this world passes away except spiritual realities. St Paul
in his letter to the Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 keeps on admonishing us to put to
death all kinds of earthly desires such as immorality, passion, covetousness
and then embrace a new life which is in Christ Jesus. As Christians our call
should be a life of emulation and transformation and this can be achieved by
shunning all forms and kinds of immoralities.
The
gospel of St Luke especially chapter 12 advices us to put our gaze towards
heaven rather than the earthly values so that our actions will be guided by
eternal realities.
It
is easier for a Christian to be seduced or lured by the values of this earthly
life which seems pleasant to the eyes. Our challenges as Christians require us
to always focus our gaze on Christ and then be docile and malleable to the
promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Let
us bear in mind that Christ is and remains the Eucharistic symbol which unites
the faithful and the church which is Himself. Let us behold Him and model our
lives in accordance with His teachings so as to live a life worthy of our faith.
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