Relationship to God must be as a relationship to our Creator who accompanies us always, who know us as we are, and who accepts us as we are. But often we relate ourselves to God based on a set of rules and norms. Or based on our devotional activities. This makes our relationship to God without life. The rules, norms, and devotional activities serve as pathways or methods to engage with God, but they are not substitutes for a genuine, living relationship with God. This distinction is crucial for a heartfelt and transformative faith journey. The danger lies in conflating the means with the end. When the focus on external practices becomes the entirety of one’s spiritual life, it can lead to a form of religiosity that lacks the personal, intimate connection that lies at the heart of a meaningful relationship with God. This requires an open heart, a willingness to listen and respond, and the cultivation of an ongoing, dynamic interaction with God. It’s about allowing those practices to transform us, fostering a heart-to-heart connection with God that informs and enriches every aspect of our lives.
Don Giorgio