God Made Us For Himself.
Dear Parishioners,
We all know that the life we love and cherish will one day come to an end. As we remember our deceased loved ones and pray for them in this month of November, we are drawn to reflect on the realities of the end times. The Church traditionally invites us during these final weeks of the liturgical year to ponder the meaning of death, judgment, and life after death. This is a time for a sober examination of conscience yet always done under the loving and merciful gaze of God our Father.
We are reminded that God made us for Himself, and our lives will have no true meaning unless they are rooted in Him. In today’s readings, the Prophet Malachi warns of judgment and the punishment of evil at the end of time. But Jesus assures those who believe in Him that evil will never have power over them.
Fear is unnecessary if our priorities are right. What is our number one priority? It is to put God first and have faith in Him for He is our Father, and we are His children. With this understanding, persecution and suffering cannot derail us. We must hold tightly to the priorities that make us true children of God. Those who believe become living temples where God dwells.
But what happens when we misplace our priorities? We become like a misplaced temple. The Temple in Jerusalem was magnificent, Israel’s holiest place of encounter with God, a symbol of His protective presence, and the visible sign of their faith. Yet some focused so much on its external beauty that they lost sight of their relationship with God. Their admiration for the precious stones and votive offerings filled them with pride and contentment apart from God. In a way, this became their own form of idolatry.
What about us? What are those things that fill us with false contentment? What gives us peace and satisfaction? Do the things that make us happy align with God’s commandments?
When Jesus predicted the destruction of the Temple, it caused great distress among His listeners. But He was pointing to something far more important. Are there obsessions or attachments in our own lives that need to be removed? Is there room in your heart for God? If not, the “old temple” within us must go. Jesus has come to replace it. “Not one stone will be left upon another.” A new beginning and a firm foundation must be built on Christ, and this requires unshakable faith.
Jesus tells us not to fear evil. In times of distress and pain, it is easy to falter and seek false security. Yet the new Temple is not made of bricks and mortar: it is made of faith. It is not the believer who saves the Church; rather, it is the Church, through Jesus Christ, that saves the believer. Let us not be tossed about by the world’s uncertainties. Our faith must be grounded, solid like a rock. Only Jesus can help us build such faith, for God made us for himself.
Sincerely Yours In The Lord,
Fr. Vitalis Anyanike, Pastor
