Paranoia, The Word of God & the Christian Faith

Being beloved = having everything that we need to live eternally.

If you went to Mass last Sunday and still remember the Gospel then, (Jesus' healing the Blind Man born blind from birth), one can easily understand today's readings, today being Friday of the 4th week of Lent. The first reading is from the book of Wisdom which mentions the plan of the evil ones against the righteous one. The Gospel shows us Jesus in Jerusalem in view of the Feast of the Tabernacles which every devout Jew is called to celebrate. The Gospel text ends up with the often-used phrase "his hour had not yet come."

As I read the Word of God, it dawned on me that there can be people who have serious difficulty in the area of trust. I thought about those who are classified as PARANOID or those who have PARANOIA. They usually keep in their minds thoughts of others intending to hurt or kill them, hence their very strong and rigid defenses. They can be so isolated because of their fears, and a very strong sense of self-protection is paramount in their minds. They limit their relations and activities and take every precaution in order to maintain their security, their sense of safety. Lacking trust in others, they may have sleepless nights and have a very high stress level which can lower one's self-esteem. However, it can be a lonely life, one that has in mind only limited views and ways. Sooner or later, the paranoid person can break down, trapped in his fantasies and psychosis.

But the Word of God can be very freeing. Jesus Himself, knowing that He was to be killed, something that may have really harrowed him as days of its fulfilment came closer "braved through" it all and fulfilled His mission. Knowing that He was doing things not on His own will but because He was sent for that mission became the rock on which He stood and worked. He must have known that if the time comes, that time would be the time of God: the kairos and not the chronos. Just remember this: when the kairos came, Jesus was given courage to face it all, carry the cross, bear the pain and forgave. The reward? The Resurrection on the third day!!! Kairos can indeed be very liberating!

What the Christian faith gives us is God's call to live the freedom of a beloved. In Christ, the Beloved, we all partake of His Love and mercy. God is calling us during this Lent to learn to trust in Him as He can recreate us anew. Being beloved = having everything that we need to live eternally. Everything in between or along the way to its fulfilment becomes bearable, tolerable, forgiveable. One need not imprison oneself in false thoughts! God's plan in Christ is not to condemn but to save, to love and to give us His life.

Indeed, the Word of God can be very liberating. It can set the Spirit free to live in the freedom of the beloved. It can make us sing with praise and worship. And if you care, the youtube of Sandy Patti's song can help a lot in this: please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-J2CbJ-fEc&feature=email and enjoy this very uplifting song.

God bless