Suy tư: FROM "STATUES OF GOD" TO "A REAL GOD"

Recognizing God from below was a special message that my professor discussed in class. The purpose of this viewpoint is to keep Christians away from Deism (one-sided consideration of the super-nature of God) or Rationalism (one-sided consideration of God based on experimental sciences). Indeed, Deism methodology is straightforward to make Christians doubt about "the real person" of Jesus. Otherwise, Rationalism can lead them to misunderstand Almighty God if they do not thoroughly examine it. Therefore, the experiences of seeing God from below do not deny the "super-nature" of God, absolutely not deny the practicality of science faculties.

Reflecting on my own experiences with God, "broken" has been the word that best describes my faith. In fact, the transition from "statues of God" to "a real God" through training in vocation, missions, and apostolic life is a long process that I must acquire on my own. Words can not describe the happiness when I break the "fake God", which I built by my personal illusion, in spiritual life! 

Touching the poor, the sick, and the suffering has given a practical meaning to my faith, as I strive to see the Face of God in Incarnation, Suffering, Death, and Resurrection. As "ADDRESS OF POPE PAUL VI TO THE POOR, THE SICK AND THE SUFFERING" on 8 December 1965 wrote that: "But we have something deeper and more valuable to give you, the only truth capable of answering the mystery of suffering and of bringing you relief without illusion, and that is faith and union with the Man of Sorrows, with Christ the Son of God, nailed to the cross for our sins and for our salvation." (1)

The primary and perfect motivation for my vocation is to recognize the Face of God in my everyday life through spiritual practices and missions. Prayers and Others are mirrors that I can find God and my own day by day. 

Author: Little Stream

NoteS: 

(1) Messages of the Council: To all the poor, the sick and the suffering (December 8, 1965)

(2) Image: the appearance of Christ's face on a consecrated host in Vilakkannur on November 15, 2013. After a 12-year investigation, the Vatican declared this event a supernatural miracle on May 31, 2025, with Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli presiding over a ceremony at Christ the King Church.