While I sometimes have a hard time figuring out what I want, I sometimes have an even harder time figuring out what God wants. Of course I want peace and love, who doesn’t? I would also want a cure for world hunger, a cure for all diseases, and an end to loneliness. I would love to hear from friends that I care about. Sometimes I like a warm hug. But enough about me. What does God want?
I was discussing this with some friends, and we had a lot of answers. God want our time, our money, our love, to have us behave, follow his law, read the Bible, pray, and help each other. Then some one in the group said it very clearly. He asked us to remember an old poster of Uncle Sam. In that poster, Uncle Sam was pointing a finger. The caption on the poster said, “I WANT YOU.”
God seems to drive a hard bargain. It is not enough for him to want our prayers, thoughts, behavior and loyalty. It is not enough to love him and be committed to him. It is not enough for us to go to church, partake in the sacraments, and attend meetings. It is not enough for us to love and be good to each other. It is not enough for him to want our time and attention. I think he wants all these things from us, but more than all of that, “HE WANTS US.”
Nothing else will satisfy him. Jesus did not suffer and die on the cross so that we would be good to each other. More than anything else, he wants us to be in perfect union and intimacy with him and to dedicate our whole self to him. His invitation to us is what I learned in the Baltimore Catechism. One of the questions was, “Why did God make you?” The answer, “To know him, to love him, to serve him, and to be happy with him forever in heaven.”
Does God want me to be good? Yes. Does he want me to pray, read the Bible, go to mass, and be loving? Yes. Does he want me to be an active church member? Yes. Does he want me to study and share the faith with others? Yes. Does God want me to be a good husband and father? Yes. But most of all, God wants me! How about you? God wants you to be with him for eternity. Just say yes!
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you his peace.”
