In Fear and Trembling

We have been believers since childhood. Done the formula for our respective faith traditions. We have not killed and even in our mediocre faith, we are quite secured that we will make it to heaven. We are not bad people. So, surely we would know when the great enemy, the father of lies, is around to populate hell. For us, Christians, we are quite confident that we will spot the Anti-Christ.

Yet, St. Paul said in Philippians 2:12
"12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,"


The devil is a fallen angel and angels are superior to us in intellect and strength. It can quote Scriptures and it would not introduce itself as the antiChrist. Cunning and deceiving it would be. Subtle in ways while slowly inverting and perverting the Truth.

Looking back at history, one would wonder how some people could have gotten so many followers. Arius had totally divided Christianity, yet followers from bishops and courtiers he had. Even after his death, his teachings persisted.

One would wonder why Rodrigo Borgia was chosen and made Pope when he had created scandals in his earlier years and it was known that he had a mistress and children. Political leaders like Hitler had followers. Cults have come and go.

It is easy to be swept by images. It is easy to be wooed by great rhetoric. It is easy to be convinced of good intentions. We are often unthinking and not discerning.

It is the thirst for Truth that allows our mind to think and our faith to grow. Our biggest obstacle is our capacity for self-deception. In our attempt to justify ourselves, we convince ourselves of fallacy. We remain in a church that's comfortable and doesn't demand much of us. No need for the transforming love of God. No need for the promptings of the Holy Spirit to lead us into the depth, width, and length of Truth.

We can be our biggest enemy, yet we can also be our biggest friend. Discernment comes from being true to oneself; And when we go to God true to ourselves, it is the prayer that truly comes from the heart. Not just emotions, but of the truth that we possess. With such disposition, we can become pliable to the workings of the Holy Spirit leading us more into the fullness of Truth.

The Great Marriage

Faith and reason, as some people would like to depict it, is contrary to each other; But truly, it is a marriage of faith and reason that allows us to grow and make informed choices.
Like all true marriages, the marriage of faith and reason does not take away their differences or uniqueness. Faith is faith and reason is reason. However, in their marriage, they begin to compliment each other. Faith feeds reason; And reason feeds faith. Only in the marriage of faith and reason can we journey to the depth, breadth, width of Truth. We can touch, feel, see, and know that which is bigger than us.
The great divorce of faith and reason, thus, is of immense consequence to living. As one becomes unfaithful, one becomes more unreasonable; And as one becomes unreasonable, the more one becomes unfaithful. It is paradoxical that one who loves reason to the abject rejection of faith is actually debilitating his/her reason. It is, likewise, with one who loves faith divorced from reason would be actually clinging to a false faith. Divorce of faith and reason leads to fanaticism or idolatry.

Another great marriage is that of Truth and Freedom. Truth sets us freer and freedom walks us to the truth. Even though truth is truth and freedom is freedom, totally different from each other; The great marriage makes them complimentary and nourishing each other.
When freedom is divorced from truth, there is only a license. Much like a driver's license, it does not follow that one can reach one's destination. Divorced from truth, love of freedom is bondage. There is no real choice because the truth is made unavailable. On the other hand, truth divorced from freedom is dictatorship. It has the roadmap and guidepost but without the driver's license, it cannot move.
The great divorce of truth and freedom leads to chaos and oppression while the great marriage of truth and freedom is the road to fullness of life.