“If thou didst know the whole Bible by heart, and the sayings of all the philosophers, what would all that profit thee without the love of God (1 Cor. 13:2), and without His grace?”
– St. Louis de Montfort
Coming from the brokenness I’ve experienced, I’ve never really been around an environment where I could fully immerse myself in theological teachings. I was never really the type to know all the “in-depth” details or history of Christianity and its culture because it really wasn’t something I grew up in. Sometimes, I felt discouraged, especially in the beginning of being an MV because I never knew as much as a few others in my batch. But the lifestyle I grew up with was the backbone God gave me in my hardest and deepest struggles…
PRAYER. My mom really instilled a prayerful lifestyle in our family and my dad made it definite that every night that we could, we’d have family prayer. And I truly believe that this lifestyle that was so constant is what God had in plan for me to carry me through the years, or the “Dark Ages” (as one would say). Eventually, I began to realize that I was making a greater effort to know about Christianity… our culture, our saints, our traditions.
I’ve never been the type to excel in anything unless I had a passion for it, and when I look back to how I was about 2 years ago, I realize that I am different. I’ve come to know more and more about my faith, and it isn’t because I have to know it, but because I have a passion to sincerely know about Christianity, and CHRIST in every part of it.
When it comes to factual knowledge and history of our faith, I know that much more people will probably know more about it. Some will know more because learning about it is something that has always been carried on in their life; others, because they’ve majored in Religion, Theology, or Christian studies and what not. HOWEVER, it will no longer affect me. If I am called for mission, I am called for mission. I may not be as knowledgeable or intellectually equipped as others, but that is something I cannot fully control.
“God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”
Of course, I know this should never be an excuse. I am still trying my very hardest to know more and more about my faith in the many ways I can. But I will never lose sight of His first mission for me: the call to LOVE. I must love all the people around me, the environment around me, and all else that surrounds me to truly understand and know His love. And it through this love, and the grace that follows, that He will equip me with what I need to carry on whatever missions lie ahead… And this brings me back to one of my life verses:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and rely not on your own insight.”
– Proverbs 3:5