Whoever you worship, "Make me the center of your Life."

Whoever you worship, “Make me the Center of your Life.”

It should always begin with Thanksgiving and Praise.  For who would not start to worship any entity if not God?  In today’s social environment of greed and self-positiveness there are more false gods that take up most of many peoples attention leaving any semblance of the God who created us.  

It may appear to be a broken record playing over and over in the minds of too many Christians who would have it no other way.  However, the pews in many churches seat too often people whose minds are set on the sports their children are about to get to following the service.  For the multitude of people who certainly get to Mass are portraying a willingness to attend and worship something.  It should be Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, but unfortunately their minds want the service to end quickly since their day has yet to start with golf games, or other non-spiritual activities.  

In the early days of my ordination, some of the ushers used to ask the priest celebrant to make it short, especially if it was Steelers Sunday.  As much as I followed the Steelers on Sunday it was I who usually preached at that 11:00 am Mass.  I did not shorten my talk, but most times the length lasted about 7 or 8 minutes.  However, that request was similar to get in and get out because the football games held a little more attention than the same old church service.

Forget me not are the words that should ring out in our minds but mostly in our hearts.  The small flowers called Forget-me-not symbolize true love and respect.  They, according to florists, are considered a symbol of fidelity and faithfulness.  Doesn’t that theme represent God and his gentle array of peacefulness that is always there for the taking?  

While in Canada, and entering the pew of a large basilica, the Lord spoke to me saying, “Make me the center of your life.”  I never forgot those words and still adhere to the deeper meaning of love, assurance, and personal appreciation that my God would even speak to me and with such a warm feeling of a peace that is found nowhere else except in my heart through him.

It can become a race to find something that will stick to my persona that says God loves me.  But all many can do is wait for the clash of thunder via the angels blowing their trumpets, as in the Book of Revelation.  Elijah waited as the mountain shook, storms passed by, and fire was all around as he waited for God to appear. (2 Kgs 19: 9 - 12).  Not until a tiny whisper touched his person with an assurance that God is in the peacefulness of life and not a barrage of excitement that only warring nations expect.  

This should be how we as Christian followers should look for and adhere to the understanding of the love that God extends to us through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ on Calvary.  There is no other thought that can reach into our hearts than to let this message of “Make me the center of your life” enter us and carry us home one day.

Ralph B. Hathaway