What has your knowledge about God made you? - Daily Bible Reflections October 15,2013

Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila, virgin   DANGEROUS KNOWLEDGE   For although they knew God they did not accord him glory… – Romans 1:21   I have said and written about it before. I’m saying and writing about it again. Knowledge of God is important. But it is never enough. (Even demons know God, remember?) At best, it is a means to an end but never the end itself.        Jesus spoke against the Pharisees and the scholars of the Law in His time. (Read the Gospel today and see how fiercely Jesus denounced them.) But Jesus was not against their persons or their knowledge per se. Being a person of knowledge, especially of Scriptures, should be something good and desirable. But what He spoke against was how they handled that knowledge and what it did to them. It made them arrogant, oppressive and legalistic. They found fault in everything that the other person did (as when Jesus “failed” to observe the prescribed washing ritual before the meal.)        Yes, by all means, know, learn, study about God, His Word and our faith. But always remember not to stop there. Because knowing God should lead you to love and serveHim more, by loving and serving others more. Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)     Reflection: What has your knowledge about God made you? Think about this: “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge… but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)   Dear God, may I know more about You. But may this knowledge lead me to love and serve You more. Amen.   St. Teresa of Avila, virgin, pray for us.