Author: Erin Gonzalez

There is one verse from the Bible that stood out to me today:

“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
– Matthew 5:48

Our Father is perfect, but He knows we aren’t. He, however, still knows that although we are not perfect, we are capable of change. Therefore, He is calling us out of our imperfections and calls us to His perfection. I know I cannot be perfect in this world because only God is perfect. Nevertheless, I know that I must strive to be perfect – strive to be Christ-like – because it is in our efforts and true sincerity that He sees Himself in us. It is in goodness that others see God. It is also through striving in His works… in good works… that we become like our Father, in truth and in love.

Deus fit homo ut homo fieret Deus.
God became human so that man might become God.

He became man so that we can have an example to follow as we continuously strive to be like Him. No matter what the circumstance… no matter what the failures, I know that my God continues to call me so that when I fall, nothing can stop me from getting back up and continuing to take the next step forward, closer to Him.

AMDG!

Living life is a challenge. Constantly growing in a fast-paced world, we are met with not only good and lasting moments and memories, but also some negative ones at that. Then, there also comes in service. It is already hard enough, trying to be an example as an “every day Christian”, but as a leader in a Catholic lay youth group, or as an MV, you are no longer looked at as just an example. You are now looked upon with expectations to be a model of excellence.

In CFC Youth, we always hear Fulltime Pastoral Workers and our Upper Leaders say that what we do isn’t a joke because this is the business of souls. But no matter how many times we hear this, how many times are we really listening? Business. How do you take care of business? Well, to basically look at it, business is run by systems and systems and files of millions of different things. In our community, the business is in databases, governance systems, monitoring the PFT, etc. It is always, always busy. This now brings me to my second question: How do you take care of souls? You pray for them, tend to them, you are patient with them, and you do all of that with love. Now where do you ever see busy-ness and hectic life of business mix in with tender, gentle, loving care for souls? It isn’t exactly the perfect match like chocolate with strawberries or ice cream with a warm, freshly baked pie (yes, I had to use a food reference haha). 

Mixing the two together – business with souls – isn’t exactly easy. It’s like trying to fit a leg through a sweater sleeve, or using a sock as a glove (no, I haven’t tried them both haha). But the point in saying this isn’t to make you feel like it’s impossible. Logically, serving in the business of souls is IMPOSSIBLE… but with God, THE IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE. That is why service is so hard because it truly challenges us to seek God, and only God. In this kind of business, we will only fail if it is done with our God. We will surely be able to run from our failures and maybe even hallucinate with easy and false successes, but if we persevere and pursue WITH the Lord, and FOR the Lord, we will witness to the impossible transform into something possible.

In CFC Youth, I have come across many challenges and obstacles. Times where a friendship was on the line, or even a chapter, or a group, a person, or a household was on the line. I approached my upper leaders and even those I serve with, but no matter who I asked, I would never find a complete resolve to the conflict. But it is only when I empty myself and listen to the Lord, and let Him  take over that I can find joy in my deepest sorrows, and light in shadows of doubt. The more I emptied myself… the more I stopped doubting and made more space for Him despite of all that I knew, the more everything felt resolved… the more I heard His voice in those around me.

Sometimes, that’s all it is… in the business of souls, the Lord does not want us to let go of business and focus only on souls, nor does He want us to let go of souls and focus more on business, but He challenges us to be challenged so that we seek Him. So that we seek Him in our purpose, and seek Him in the plan. And in doing so, He becomes the only bridge between business and all the souls (even ours) that we serve.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing.“

– John 15: 5

On the cross, He died so that we may be pardoned for our sins and He lived again so that we may be brought salvation. The greatest sacrifice for the greatest love… The sacrifice of One for the salvation of sinners…

How often do we go by each day feeling hurt, feeling angry, frustrated, upset, stressed, and all other things that are just plain negative? In the midst of the busy-ness of the world, I found myself using my mere existence, as a human being, the excuse to why I felt the way I did. That it is “only natural” for me to be this way. Although I am not perfect (in fact, far from it), I now know this:

Deus fit homo ut homo fieret Deus
God became human so that humans might become God

He became human so that we would become witnesses. Witnesses to the living example of HOW we can become living testimonies to this very phrase. God became human. He felt what we felt, and lived how we lived. He saw what we saw and heard what we heard. But most of all, he became human. The very act of becoming human was an ultimate act of humility, living our ways. He wanted to show us how we could live; HOW our Father wants us to live. And He did it all living exactly like us. 

Keeping this in mind, is it really good enough to say “It’s okay because we’re human”? It is, if we don’t know what is wrong. But the very moment we realize what we’re doing or feeling isn’t right, that is our moment of salvation. That is the “God-moment” where He speaks and shows us that this is not the way. And that is the very moment He gives us to act. Jesus did not live a life that was good just because He was the Son of God, but also because He always opened his heart to HEAR Him. Jesus is our example, not just because of the things he did, but because of HOW he lived. 

God wants the same salvation for us. Suffering comes to bring us Salvation. And in the times we suffer – in the small and big ways – we are called to see Him and hear Him so that He may lead us to GOOD in those sufferings. So that we may be led to Him in His ways because His ways are good.

Jesus dying on the cross was not just an act that brought us our salvation, but also the very example of how we should live our lives. That no matter how painful and how hard it is, and no matter how much it does not seem realistic or something possible to do, with love and trust in the Lord, it is in those moments that He is bringing us closer and closer to our Salvation.

Just like Jesus, we are called to submit our lives wholeheartedly… every emotion, every word, every touch, and everything else that is human. We are called to lift it all up to him so that “humans might become God”.

Lord, with complete trust in You, I lift up my life. I lift up my human-ness to You so that I may let go of WHAT I hold onto, and grab hold of only You. For You have hold of my heart. You know the beautiful plans that you have set for me, whether they may hurt or bring happiness. But I know that despite of everything that may come my way, Your greatest plan is to bring me to You and your Salvation. And with complete trust, I pray that I will always be able to LET GO and let YOU in. In You, I trust.