People flock to various places in search of divine favours. I think of my friend who attends Sunday Mass, not because she is Catholic, but because she believes Jesus to be a powerful God who can help her. As I try to reconcile Jesus’ rebuke: to believe in him, and to seek life beyond our temporal needs: I hear a voice in my head whisper, “Why do you believe?” and my smugness at being better than this crowd vanishes. Yes, I faithfully cling to this river of grace that has nurtured me, sustained me, and blessed me over the years. I know peace and life with Jesus beyond my crisis, but deep down I know my loyalty is fickle. I cling to Jesus because I cannot live without his grace. But believing in God is to trust and worship him for who he is: to trust in his perfection as our Creator. It is about wholehearted commitment, regardless of our life’s circumstances. It is about total surrender. Is my worship beyond my need of him? Our honest answers might surprise us.

Abba Father, awaken in me an understanding of your beauty and splendour, may I worship in wonder and awe. Amen.