By Jonathan Camiolo

 

Sometimes when I am driving, I try to get to my destination the fastest possible way by taking back roads.  There is some excitement in learning new ways and I love avoid all the lights that always seem to be on the most direct routes.  The downside is that sometimes I just end up lost or taking the most round about way to my destination, making me late and sometimes frustrated.  I still do though because there seems to be a drama and thrill involved, but I regret it when I get myself off track and delayed.  

 

I feel like sometimes we all do that with God and faith.  We want to find the shortcut, the fastest or easiest way to get into Heaven.  We want to avoid the “stop signs and red lights”.  The interesting part of trying to find shortcuts is that we end up making it more complicated than it was ever supposed to be.  

 

The readings this Sunday bring us back to the basics.  In the first reading we hear Moses ask God for mercy.  We are all sinners and need God to give us pardon and to still accept us as His children despite our weakness and selfishness.  The Gospel sums it all up, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”  Moses begged and God responded once and for all through the life, death and finally the resurrection of Jesus.

 

Let’s not make our faith too complicated.  Remember, God loves you.  You need His mercy and forgiveness.  We cannot earn heaven but rather ask for God’s mercy when we mess up and try to love Him and each other like Jesus taught us through his example.  May we all keep in mind the basics and live gratefully and humbly.  It seems so simple, doesn’t it?

 

Think. Pray. Decide. Change.  You are loved!