For about a fourth of my adult life, I was part of the problem. You see, my faith was something personal only, and I kept it compartmentalized, out of my work life, out of my recreation, out of my finances… When the Holy Spirit intervened, through our attendance at a Life in the Spirit Seminar, things started to change. It took a long time to get all those little compartments opened up to the Light. The culture we live in here in the US, still plays the compartmental game with faith… and the sad part it, it makes our faith shrink and shrivel away to nothing. The more compartments we create, isolated from our faith, the more we continue to create and the less personal and weaker our faith becomes. It starts with the separation of Church and State and spreads from there like a cancer. Not that we should force our faith on others or legalize a certain religion as official, but we should not limit our freedom to exercise and live our faith as long as it does not hurt or infringe on another’s freedom to worship God as they are so led.
Our readings are SGS 3:1–4B, JN 20:1–2,11–18. Some days, as we shop, work, travel, etc., I feel like the writer of the Song of Solomon, who looks for his love, but cannot find him in the city, the streets or the crossings. I feel like Mary Magdalene, who looks for Jesus’ body but cannot find Him… and the cannot recognize Him. Both of these readings point to a deeply intimate and personal love, which is yearning to be requited. This type of love doesn’t take a back seat, but rather infiltrates every thought and area of life.
. Which way do you love God and live your faith? Does your faith and love for Christ permeate your thoughts and activities throughout the day, or only for a few minutes a day and maybe, just maybe, an hour on Sunday? Do you live your faith “out loud” by acting in charity , generosity and love? Do you try to see Jesus in others and be Jesus for others in the store, at work, in traffic, at social gatherings, or do you keep that type of “weakness” tucked and hidden away? Do you participate in gossip, be vocally judgmental, tell off-color jokes, act in prejudice, let a dollar or material items be your God? If we do, like I used to a lot (and now sometimes still do), we are part of the problem. We are. the “they” we often complain about. “Lord Jesus, give me a love for You that is confident, unafraid, & deeply intimate that invades and overwhelms my entire being. Help me to love you with my whole heart, mind, soul and strength, and live that faith and love “out loud” in the world today. Amen.” Peace and All Good, my friends.

