reading and practicing

Christian life is so beautiful and yet practical. However sometimes many still think that The Beauty of This Faith can be understood by reading, by words alone. That's why, there are so many books written in this century even much more in our days, so-called "best seller" Christian book. Actually, I am very glad that those books can really be blessings to many people who read them, this has been so great. I am myself love to read any book (what is more in English), especially the spiritual books. However, we should not forget that when we read the spiritual books, we are to examine our hearts and to bring us to the repentance, humility and love toward holiness and every good virtues, and are not somehow adorning ourselves with certain cognition or something to be pride of, to show how academic someone is and knows lots of thing.

If so, how vain then that precious knowledge will be. I meet a very knowledgeable man in my life, he is full of wisdom and love toward God. I am always amazed that when I am sitting near him as my spiritual father, he doesn't try to show off his intellectuals. He speaks so patiently and with simplicity. This is very touching for me personally. When I said to him, "Romo (that is Father in Indonesian), how wise you are! Truly, God loves you very much and you almost know everything! He simply smiles at us. "Nanda (son-in Bahasa Indonesia), you know all what I learn and know are from Him, and the aim of all these knowledge is that you be directed to Him, to change the heart into Love toward Him and our neighbors and His creation. If I am fallen asleep, what is that for me? What I am bringing before Him is simply Love and If I don't have this (Love), these all meaningless".

Glory to God! Truly with heartfelt I give thanks to God that in his mercy He allows me to meet and to have such loving and gentle spiritual father. And yes, by that I learn that "if these things doesn't bring me to love Him, our neighbours and His creations, then these are meaningless, vain." It is very important to learn the spiritual works of our fathers and indeed how joyful we are to be handed such great treasure and wisdom. But it is also true that practice it, is also a very profound means to comprehend our faith and to live it out, The Beauty of our Faith is very awesome and that cannot be explained by words only. Life speaks stronger and clearer than words.

And above all, let's do this practice out of love and not of the desires to somehow 'build' the self, that is to be looked good or to gain 'something' for our self as if we have not received it. Rather, let's joyfully arise and make the sign of His-- and our beloved cross, invoking the Holy Trinity and ask his mercy to bless us to live whole-heartedly in him; to follow closely behind Him. Out of love means we listen to Him carefully, always seeing Him to learn from him and to live as a living sacrifice before Him and that can not be by words alone. (If you want to listen it in the audio podcast version just right click and save it here or here :)

Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!