Look for Christ first and always

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

WE are now in the Season of Advent, a time to develop the sense of yearning for Christ in our life. And the readings of the Mass on Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent encourage us to do just that.

In the first reading, from the Book of Isaiah, we are assured of the tremendous benefits we can get from God through Christ in the Holy Spirit. “I am the Lord thy God that teach thee profitable things, that govern thee in the way that thou walkest,” it says. (48,17)

And it continues: “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments: thy peace had been as a river, and thy justice as the waves of the sea, and thy seed had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof.” (48,18-19) The responsorial psalm reiterates the same idea, the same truth: “Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.” (Jn 8,12)

It’s worthwhile to not only be familiar with these words but also to repeat them in our mind and heart if only to always give us the impulse to look for Christ in everything that we do in our life.

Let’s reassure ourselves that only in this way can we manage to have joy and peace no matter what happens in our life which will always be marked by challenges, trials and such things.

Let’s hope that we can escape the complaint of Christ as expressed in the gospel of the day’s Mass. “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn,” he said. (Mt 11,16-17)

Indeed, there is a lot of religious indifference today. And even those who may be regarded as religiously inclined are not yet that consistent in their relation with Christ. It’s more theory than practice, more of intention than of deeds.

If we believe that Christ is the pattern of our humanity, the savior of our damaged humanity who offers us the way, the truth and the life, then it should come as something natural that he should be the center and constant focus of our life.

We need to develop the practice of looking for Christ first and always in everything that we do in this life. We have to reassure ourselves that that is the best thing that can happen to us. With Christ, we would know how to properly think, speak, react and behave in any situation of our life. Yes, we are reassured of joy and peace. And most of all, we would be achieving the final goal of our life—our salvation, our sanctity.

We really need to develop an abiding and burning desire to fulfill the real purpose of our life which is precisely for us to be “another Christ.” We should be clear about this ultimate purpose of ours so we can have the proper sense of direction and focus in our life, and the corresponding urge to fulfill it.

To be sure, Christ is everywhere. Not only that, he constantly intervenes in our life. He is never passive. He is full of love, concern and solicitude for us. We really have to learn how to correspond to this tremendous madness of love Christ has for us!

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com