Learn Christ 

   “If you learn everything except Christ, you learn nothing.  If you learn nothing but Christ you have learned everything. (St. Bonaventure) 

   The Jewish leaders had spent most of their lives learning the Torah and studying the prophets.  Yet with all their knowledge they failed to know Christ when He stood before them.  They crucified the One they had waited for all their lives.

   Some spend hours studying their faith, learning as much as possible about why they believe what they believe and how to share that faith with others.  This learning is important and useful, but it will not get them into heaven if they don’t have Christ in their heart, seeking His will in all things.

   Those who are ignorant of all earthly knowledge and are not learned in their faith, but who know Christ in their heart and soul will enter the gates of heaven.  They know Christ, they know He is the way, the truth, and the life.  All other learning, though valuable, pales in comparison with knowing our Lord and living our life to serve Him.

   At the judgement, Jesus will not ask about the college degree we earned or the success we achieved in our career.  He won’t quiz us about our knowledge of our faith.  He will only ask about how we lived that faith, knowing Him and striving to follow His will in our life.

   I am one of those who has spent a lot of time learning about my faith and I’m glad that I did; knowledge is a good thing.  But what I learned above all is that none of it matters if I don’t know Christ in my heart and in my soul.