“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind» (Matthew 22:37, NKJV)
I’m a millennial, whether I like it or not. So are you. Although the negative characteristics of that generation are well-known, today we can decide to prove that by being children of God we can go beyond what society expects, or tolerates from us.
It is increasingly frequent for us to feel we have the right to act a certain way, generally selfishly, just because; merely because we are the product of certain limits that began to be blurred, of stages our parents sometimes skipped, of a technological boom that sometimes stupefies us, of an endless list of new rights and many more excuses.
It can really affect us professionally, socially and intimately, but its greatest danger is its influence on spiritual life. Our insatiable consumerism, our search for stimulation and rewards just because we exist, wanting to be «happy» and following our hearts can cost us a very high price when drawing near to God.
It is true He finds us wherever we are, that salvation is by faith, that He is willing to forgive us, but what if because of that we stop seeking Him, demand to be saved and abuse His kindness?
There is a story in the Bible that shows a generation of people who thought they had the right to everything because of their nationality. Without ceasing to show His love, compassion and forgiveness, Jesus clearly established limits and reminded them of their responsibility, which in addition to being one of the greatest indications that we love and care for ourselves, is also an indication that we love and care for others.
The Pharisees hid behind the Law to attack and to protect their pride, decisions and sins; just because they believed it was their right. Sometimes we feel we have the right, need, freedom and even duty to invent new laws for the same reason.
Jesus didn’t break the Law (although it cost Him His life) and also defended the highest principles inscribed in it and called for responsibility, both from the Pharisees who were about to cast a stone, and from the woman who had to stop sinning.
Today He calls us to something that is higher than anything this world presents and stipulates. He calls us to return to His Word, to love Him more and ourselves less, to defend certain rights without for that matter doing away with our responsibility. He promised and will fulfill all the rest.
