HAVE you been in a place with people from around the world? If so, you must have found it to be an amazing experience. You must have realized the capacity of human beings to bond together, to be one in bringing harmony and peace,
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became human for this purpose– to bring solidarity among all races. He did not come to identify himself with a sole group of people. He came into this world for all people. In fact, the gospels are replete with instances of how he embraced everyone.
And so, when we hear of Jesus coming out of the Jordan River after John baptized him, we hear a voice from heaven addressing all people, saying, “Hear is my Son, listen to him.” We hear God addressing the whole humanity, expressing his oneness with all people and his desire to be one with them.
God has always desired to be part of us, to be involved in our lives. No matter how we think that the world we live has become too secular, there is no doubt that God wants to be part of our mundane lives.
The problem lies in many us, human beings: oftentimes, we do not want God to be part of our lives; whereas God always reaches to us, always willing to create a relationship with us. The problem also lies in the fact that we do not see God in human reality.
God does not want us to reject this world; as a matter of fact, he wants us to develop it, as long as we do it according to the parameters of his law and justice.
When we become conscious of God’s presence and love in every human experience, then our whole attitude and perspective grows or changes: we become more respectful and appreciative of others.
The fundamental way to live in this world, free of hatred, violence, famine, and pain, is to see God present and active in every human experience.
Indeed, perhaps,, what the world needs is not “religion”, but a deeper and constant consciousness that God wants benevolence in all people and pure human care and compassion in a world where no race feels superior than the others.
God sent his Son, Jesus, precisely for this purpose, and his Son, Jesus, showed it by example. How quickly we, Christians, can forget!
* * *
Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].