Catholicism… Manifestation of the truth?

The cross for me is symbolic of sacrifice.

Love without sacrifice doesn’t exist, and sacrifice without love is futile.

I wear a cross not because I am perfect, not because I think I am perfect, and not because I want others to think I am perfect. I wear a cross as a daily reminder that I am not perfect.

Whether you are religious or not, whether you view Jesus as God, prophet, historical figure, or fictional character, you cannot deny that He is a good person. Some people choose to emulate an actor, athlete, political figure, or philanthropist. Well, I choose to follow Jesus. I took up my cross, and I try to bear it every day. I often ask why when I am choosing to be a good person, why others do not always appreciate it; they even seem to exclude me or ridicule my actions. Then I realize that Jesus said that people who follow Him will be ridiculed. Now even viewing His words as a carefully crafted story, you cannot deny that what He says is true. Being honest and doing the right thing does not always get you material success, but it does give you love.

The Catholic religion could be viewed as absolute, or it could be viewed as a manifestation of the truth. I do not know whether God is the booming voice in the heavens or whether God is something less concrete, such as the feeling of love, or this underlying force that connects all humanity together. However, it is very hard for me to believe that this is it; that human beings are merely like plants and we have no connection beyond this world. There is just something out there that is so strong to me… How can multiple people over the course of history feel the same way, unless we are feeling God?

by: R. Meskill

Originally written May 2014