Finding God Within 

   “Late have I loved you, O beauty so ancient and new:  late have I loved you!  For you were within and I outside; and I sought you outside, and in my unloveliness fell upon those lovely things that you have made.  You were with me, and I was not with you.” (St. Augustine, “Confessions”)

 

   What Augustine finally realized is that God was within Him all along.  He was seeking happiness in His creations rather than in the Creator.  It’s no different for me and you.  He is within us from the moment of creation and will be within us until the moment of death.  It’s up to us to open our minds and our hearts and come to know Him. 

   God creates nothing that is not good, His gifts are evidence of His great love.  It is the sinful inclinations of mankind that takes the good He has created and uses it for evil purposes.  Sex becomes a recreation rather than a total giving of one to another in the bonds of matrimony.  Money becomes a false God rather than a blessing that can be used to help others.  Love is bartered and sold as a commodity rather than cherished as the incredible gift that it truly is.

   We can seek wherever we will but to find God we must seek Him within us.  He is there, He has always been there and will remain forever.  It’s up to us to turn to Him and offer Him our love, our devotion and even our life.  God is within us; we must quit searching without and turn to the God who loves us. 

Lord You are mercy and love.

You will that all Your children come to You.

Open our hearts and souls.

Help us turn to You and find true happiness.

 Amen