Experiencing God - Rules for Personal Living 35

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  Put to death, therefore, whatever in you that is earthly."
Letter of Paul to the Colossians

The title given to this particular reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians is "The New Life In Christ".  This letter along with his letter to the Galatians spells out the rules for Christian living.  "Live by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit". 

These same rules are spelled out in all the major religions of the world.  In Buddhism, for example, they are declared in three of the eight fold path that leads to enlightenment:  right speech, right action, and right livelihood.  In Hinduism, they represent the first two of the eight branches of their faith, the first being the rules of social behavior and the second being the rules for personal behavior.  These rules are also deeply engrained in our Catholic Catechism.  

I was just reading this morning an excerpt from the Catechism on the eighth commandment about not bearing false witness against your neighbor.  It reads:  "The eighth commandment teaches us not to lie.  Lying means consciously and intentionally speaking or acting against the truth.  Someone who lies deceives himself, and misleads others who have a right to know the truth of a matter."

Years ago, after my ordination as a deacon, I had an opportunity to work on several cursillo weekends.  One of the talks that I often gave as a team member was called "Obstacles to Grace".  The title of this talk describes it well.  God's grace is present and active all around us.  Why can't we see it?  Why can't we experience it?  The obstacles to seeing and experiencing God's grace is directly linked to our failure to see the value of and following the rules for Christian living.  We must realize that the rules are there, not as an imposition to a life style we may find more attractive, but as a necessity in order to experience Christ's transforming power in our lives, the New Life in the Spirit.

The summation of all the values of Christian living can be found in the Gospel reading on the Beatitudes.  You may ask how can we possibly find happiness and new life in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution?  If we want to be filled with the joy and happiness of the Spirit, then we must empty ourselves of all that would shut God out of our hearts.  Poverty of Spirit creates within the ample room to possess God alone as our greatest treasure.  Hunger of the Spirit seeks nourishment and strength in Christ and His word.  Sorrow and mourning over times wasted over egotistical pursuits leads to the joyful freedom that Christ gives us through His Spirit.  God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of an abundant life and happiness. 

Jesus promises that the joys of new life will more than compensate for whatever troubles or hardships we may expect in the world.  St. Thomas Aquinas says:  No person can live without Joy.  Those who are deprived of Spiritual Joy usually go after carnal pleasures.  No person can live without joy, and the greatest joy is that which flows from Christ.