I was watching a video the other day of Lila Rose, a prominent pro-life advocate, having a conversation with a group of women. The conversation centered on chastity and Lila, very charitably, shared with the women the desire God has for their relationship with men.
One woman, who clearly disagreed, defensively spoke up and said, “Nobody has the right to tell me what I can and cannot do with my boyfriend in the bedroom.”
Lila calmly explained the beauty of what God wants for the marital embrace.
The other women said something to the effect of, “Yeah, yeah, I believe in God. I mean, I have a Bible in my house. I’m not doing anything wrong. I love my boyfriend.”
Oh, how I could see my younger self in this woman. I knew what was going on in her mind as it was the same thing that used to go on in my mind. I’m pretty sure I uttered those exact words as her. “Look, I believe in God. I have a Bible.”
Notice how both of us said we had a Bible; we didn’t say we read it.
Now, these were the things I told myself and others to seem like a “good person.” Never mind that I did precious little to foster a relationship with God and that Bible I had…well, it was collecting dust in a slot on my nightstand.
I thought these bare minimum professions covered me, an insurance, so to speak. I felt I was free to live how I wanted. In my mind, my label of “Christian” and my possession of a Bible allowed me to feel righteous, better than those without those things.
The thing was, though, was that I wanted the security of Heaven but I wanted to put in zero effort on my part. Christ was constantly inviting me into a relationship with Him, but I constantly put Him on the back burner. I didn’t want Him cramping my style.
Our Gospel reading today shows that the master is inviting many to his amazing feast, a shared banquet of gifts and love, but too many find reasons to decline the invitation.
“Consider me excused, I’ve got other things, don’t you see?” Thanks, but no thanks.
May we see, Catholic Pilgrims, that we must respond to the gifts and graces God gives us. We must be an active participant in this relationship; it can’t be simply a one-sided thing. We can and should give God more than the bare minimum.
Have a blessed Tuesday.
