Fr. Richard OMOLADE

One famous quote says, “Bloom where you are planted” Many would take this at face value and entrench themselves in their environment. But caution must not be thrown to the wind. Before you begin to bloom, where are you at this moment? What is the situation of your life? Spiritually, it has been said that “you cannot remain in sin and hope that grace will multiply.” No, it will not, so where you are in life matters.

Growing up is essential but blooming takes and extra effort, for some it comes early but for many others it may come later in life, yet many people compare themselves with others and begin to operate on another’s timeline. Bloom where you are planted is realizable only if you are planted on good soil. You cannot bloom on rocky ground and if you are planted on the pathways, you are game for the birds.

Abraham was called when he was already a matured man and advanced in age. He left his land and went to a new land that God showed him. To use Moses, God took him away from the comfort of his home and made him have the feel of power, then God taught him that the only power that matters is God’s power.  God took him far away from the environment of power and clothed him with a new kind of power. While he was in the land of Egypt, this message did not sink in until he confronted the intricacies of the difficult life of his people. Even then he had to be taken away from his ordinary day environment and into the desert before he could experience the power and greatness of God.

Then he grew in his knowledge of the power that matters, God’s power. In that far away land, he met God, he encountered him, and his life was transformed in an instance. A man that was given a chance to enjoy power suddenly lost it all and became ordinary again, but in God’s hands, everything is extraordinary and in the presence of God, Moses became the most powerful man on the face of the earth. He was ready for life, he was ready for his mission, the time had come for him to bloom.

The first disciples of Jesus were once followers of John. Following John prepared them to recognize Jesus when he came, where they were was not where God had prepared for them.  They were unperceiving but the pull of God was stronger. They saw Jesus and asked “Master, where do you stay?” And Jesus answered, “Come and See!” They saw and stayed with him that whole day. Suddenly, it dawned on them that they had to decide, to remain where they had always been or follow this new man, Jesus. 

The Bible makes it clear that one of them, Andrew then went and called his brother Simon and brought him to Jesus when he said, “We have found the Messiah!” (John 1:41) So, it is quite clear that Simon himself was still on his own journey of discovery. His encounter with Jesus changed everything for him. If you want Jesus to change your lot, then, you have to leave where you are and move to the land of redemption.

When you go to Church are you fully in Church or you are still in the land of your sin? Are you there for God or your mind is far away?  Half measure does not cut it. We have to be there for God with our whole heart and mind, otherwise we are wasting our time. If you are not there with your full attention, then you are not really there, you cannot find God. That is why the Church says that the celebration of the Mass requires our full, conscious, and free attention.  We must be present to God because we want to, we are there because it is the best place to be. We are there because God is our best option. Yes, there are other options, because the world has a lot to offer, but these offers are ephemeral, fleeting, soon their glory fades away. The one that endures is God and many are not able to find Him.

Ultimately, human disposition is crucial in our attempt to find God. If our hearts are not disposed to things of God, then finding God will remain a futile effort. So where are you now? Do you think you will find God where you are now? It is not about music, even if it helps sometimes, it is not about the pastor, sometimes their preaching pass many people by. Where you are now, are you able to hear God, feel God and touch God? Are you able to encounter God?  If you cannot find time to speak to your inner spirit, you will remain a wandering person on the face of the earth. Prioritize your relationship with God, and other things will follow. That’s the blessed assurance, “Seek you first the kingdom of God and all other things will be given you.”