Are you . . . ‘On the Fence’?
Blog Updated 6/21/23.
Greetings. Isn’t this a beautiful picture? I really like it.
The fog is ever so slight and it’s a peaceful serene view of a sturdy fence going through a meadow.
The picture can serve as a metaphor of how we can operate in our lives as the fence splits both sides of the meadow. Do we serve God in His Church; do we serve the world; or do we serve a little of both? Hot, Cold or Lukewarm? We do not want God to deem us Lukewarm, for of this he says through St. John in Revelations 3:16 “So because you are Lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth2 ”. We can be functioning split in our lives between such things as our past and our present; between loving and not loving; between confusion and clarity; between joy and pain; between fear and commitment; and between order and disorder.
Like the beauty of the picture, we feel a serene interior peace and we are protected by God from the demons that can plague our lives, when we choose to live within the authority structure of God. There may be difficulties in life where we are tested and our resolve to remain steadfast to the Lord and too each other is weakened, but we can still feel His peace interiorly if trust Him and in his love and mercy.
However, if we’re completing actions to choices outside the structure and authority of God, there’s a fog or interruption in clarity or can be said, an interruption in truth / an introduction of disorder.
Our authority structure is found in Creation as set forth by God. It is also found in Sacred Scripture through the Holy Spirit, in the Natural Moral Law placed in us by God, and in the 10 Commandments given to us by God. Living a life humbly subordinating our own will to God’s will, creates synergy between us and God. Realizing His hand is in all things in ways we cannot always understand, and also that if it feels right, it’s of God; realizing if it doesn’t feel right and if there’s confusion it is not of God, can help keep you steady and true.
If you’re wondering what God’s will is for you; it is to be with him, eternally . . . in heaven. Forever, with Him in heaven! We have a baseline for our decisions if we are cognizant of our ‘eternity’ when making choices.
A solid guide is given by St. Paul in his letter to the Romans 12:9-17. Through the workings of the Holy Spirit, he wrote:
“Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer”.
“Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality”.
“Bless those who persecute (you), bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all 2 “.
We cannot remain in the holding pattern of sitting on the fence. That makes us lukewarm. Neither hot nor cold. Everything corporal and spiritual is thrown off. We are out of sync and feel it even in our bodies from the choices we have made or are making. We must make a clear and concise choice of who we will love and who we will serve. And, of most importance, our actions must meet our choice. Again, I mention what the Lord says in Revelations 3:16 “So because you are Lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth2 ”.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church1 teaches of the virtue of ‘Charity’ (ccc 20931) as follows:
“Faith in God’s love encompasses the call and the obligation to respond with sincere love to divine charity. The first commandment enjoins us to love God above everything and all creatures for him and because of him”. And further that . . .
“One can sin against God’s love in various ways” (ccc 20941) (Lukewarmness, Ingratitude, Indifference, Hatred of God, and Acedia (Spiritual Sloth)), defining them as follows:
“Lukewarmness is hesitation or negligence in responding to divine love; it can imply refusal to give oneself over to the prompting of charity”.
“Ingratitude fails or refuses to acknowledge divine charity and to return him love for love”.
“Indifference neglects or refuses to reflect on divine charity; it fails to consider its prevenient goodness and denies its power”.
“Hatred of God comes from pride. It is contrary to love of God, whose goodness it denies, and whom it presumes to curse as the one who forbids sins and inflicts punishments.”
“Acedia or Spiritual Sloth goes so far as to refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness”.
We are meant to love within God’s precepts, and we are meant to give and receive love.
We are not meant to live autonomous lives being islands unto ourselves.
We are meant to have good thoughts and words, not bad or critical thoughts or words.
We are meant to love and serve God and be with Him eternally. in heaven.
It is YOUR personal choice . . . .
- Will you serve God, or the Infernal Enemy (IE) also known as Lucifer or Satan?
- Will you love? Will you take to heart the biblical passages and teachings of the church?
- Will you be obedient to God, serving Him and have no other Gods before Him?
AND for US as a people, it’s OUR choice . . . .
- Will we together serve God, or the Infernal Enemy (IE) also known as Lucifer or Satan?
- Will we together love? Will we take to heart the biblical passages and teachings of the church?
- Will we together be obedient to God, serving Him and have no other Gods before Him?
In 1st Peter 5:8-11 through the workings of the Holy Spirit St. Peter tells us:
“Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm strengthen and establish you after you have suffered a little. To him be dominion forever. Amen 2 “.
I would look forward to an opportunity to speak on this or other subjects covered on this site, in ministry with you or your group. Please visit the ‘Booking’ area on this website. I pray for all good things for you, in unity and service to God.
In closing, I pray the peace and grace of God will be with you as you ‘Consider and Ponder’ the content of this letter.
Thank you,
Michelle
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1 Second Revised Edition of the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church ccc #2093-#2094 pgs. 563-564 Doubleday / English Translation © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc. – Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
2 Biblical passages are from The New American Bible – Saint Joseph Edition; © 1992, 1990 by Catholic Book Publishing Co. New York, NY 1970
Photograph © 2015 by Fr. Vince Hovley, S.J. used with his verbal permission in 2018.
