The Journey 59: Transformation in my personal life
Read: Mathew 16: 13-20
Key Verse: “Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven” [ Mathew 16:16]
A battle is being raged in Michigan as two candidate vie for the Republican Presidential candidate nomination. One is a native of Michigan, Mitt Romney while the other candidate is a former United States senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum who is also drawing full media glare not only because he is potential frontrunner for the Republican nomination, but also because of some of the views that he has recently expressed with regards to issues like marriage, abortion and the institution of family. Both the candidate have distinct agenda in their campaign. One emphasizes on a certain conservative moral values while the other emphasizes on an economic agenda. Who will finally win, only time will tell. But what caught my attention was the remarks made by Santorum with respect to the relation between church and state. According to Santorum he says that he does not believe that the role of church and the state should be separate and bifurcated on the contrary he says that if such thing happen then it is totally opposite to the objective and vision of the country. This was something that he disagreed with the statement of the former president John F Kennedy. The discussion between the role of the church and state has been always been a hot topic of discussion and controversy in history. This was an important aspect during the time of the Roman empire and also during the British empire. But my concern here is that more than the topic of relation between church and state, is whether both the candidates are taking a stand or views out of their conviction or only trying to score points against one another in the long run leading to the presidential election. What marks an individual is whether he can stand for his conviction and that decided how transformation will take place in his life.
We are meditating this week on the theme “ Transformation in our personal life”. In the portion that we are meditating today,[ Mathew 16: 13-20], Jesus asks a very unlikely question to his disciples and the question was “who do people say that I am”? The disciples say that some say that he is John the Baptist, while some others say Elijah, while some Jeremiah and some other prophets. But when Peter is asked the same question he comes out with a fantastic answer and that is “ You are Christ, the Son of Living God” [ Mathew16: 16]. Jesus replies that the revelation that Peter did was not from man but by the Father in heaven. I think that is what conviction is all about. My conviction about an issue in life is not something that I formulate myself, but my convictions and my values have a foundation from my relationship with my Lord. This is what is needed today in society, people who not only having convictions, but conviction that comes out of their faith living and faith perspective about life, about their society and their country. If convictions are not based on my faith perspective then I shall always change my convictions more for selfish, monetary and personal reasons rather than a change that may happen as I grow in faith and in knowledge of the Lord.
What every country and society needs today are transformed people, people who can preach what their convictions are and also stand for those convictions that they preach. Convictions and values that come out of ones faith journey and experiences.
Do we have the guts to proclaim and also stand for those convictions?.
Let us Pray: O Lord you want us to be people who form strong convictions which is the result of our faith journey with You. Give us the grace and the strength to stand up for those convictions. Amen.