WHAT IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOD’S PRECEPTS?

The law that you gave means more to me than all the money in the world Psalm 119: 72; Our love for Jesus should be so great that our only fulfillment should be in knowing that we have pleased the Lord and he is delighted, that we have obeyed him and have glorified him; that we have defeated the devil just by loving God and being true to his precepts. Regardless of what the world says, regardless of all that we have to endure, we should delight in pleasing God and in living worthily.

Jesus gave us an outstanding example in Luke 19:45-46; “It is written in the scripture that God said; ‘my temple will be a house of prayer’, But you have turned it into a hideout for thieves!” He made this statement when he found out that the traders were extorting the people by charging exorbitant prices when selling the necessary temple offerings to them. Jesus was furious at their audacity and their disrespect for the temple. How could they do that in the holy temple of his Father? He was furious and chased them out of the temple. Here, Jesus portrayed the ferociousness with which we should hold unto God’s instructions. He also portrayed the zeal with which he defended the poor.

“I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour” (Rev. 10:10) When we listen to the good news of Jesus and the many graces that await God’s children, we are delighted and eager to please him. When we go to mass and listen to the passionate teachings of the priest, we usually want to hurry home quickly and begin to live the life which the priest has taught us.

However, after a few days of diligently being faithful to the church’s teaching, we grow weary; when we feel the bitter taste of having to disown the enticing things of this world, we start to have second thoughts. Yes the end is sweet for Christians but the road to heaven isn’t that smooth. And it takes the grace of Jesus to steadily remain focused at our goal of being united with the father in heaven one day.

We are all called to embrace our faith with more passion and devotion; we are called to never compromise but stand tall and shine bright; that those around us may learn to love Christ and his teachings.