Living a Secular life
Sophia (which means ‘wisdom’) visits her cousin Kosmikós (Greek for ‘secular’), who goes by the nickname Mikos.
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Sophia: Nice home, Mikos.
Mikos: Thanks. We’re very proud of it.
Sophia: I know you were brought up Catholic, yet I don’t see anything within your home that reflects it.
Mikos: Oh, we’re not a religious family.
Sophia: I see. Tell me something, Mikos. At the very most, we have maybe a few decades left on this planet before we die, right?
Mikos: Yeah, probably. Why?
Sophia: After that, will you be religious?
Mikos: After I’m dead?
Sophia: Yes.
Mikos: Well, I don’t know, I guess so. Isn’t that what Heaven is about?
Sophia: It may be a stretch, but let’s assume someone who “isn’t religious” – who has no living relationship with God and His Church – goes to Heaven. If you’re going to be “religious” forever in a life that never ends, wouldn’t it make sense to start now?
Mikos: We don’t think much about this. Besides, we don’t like people to wear religion on their sleeves.
Sophia: Will you be “wearing” it for all eternity?
Mikos: I guess so…. I hope so. Now you’re making me think about these things!
Sophia: If your hope is to spend your eternity with God in Heaven rather than alienated from Him in the misery of Hell, wouldn’t it be reasonable to live your religion now, even openly? Jesus says in Luke 9:26, “If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory.” That means the final judgment.
Mikos: You mean we won’t automatically go to Heaven, huh? I thought God is love, and I’m a good guy.
Sophia: I don’t know who will be in Heaven or Hell for all eternity, but I do know that our eternal destinies don’t just happen automatically. Heaven is a continuation of the love-relationship with God already being lived in this life. One can’t just wait for the next life to be “religious.”
Mikos: You’re challenging my comfort zone. But your logic, I admit, is compelling. Since this life is less than a flash compared to eternity, then why is all my focus on the comforts of this world?
Sophia: Great question. Now you’re thinking straight. We need to ponder this. After all, we’ll be judged primarily not on what we give our children and others materially, but what we give them spiritually.
Mikos: Oh…. Yea. I think I’ve been in constant denial about these things. Yet…what could be more important? Thanks for gently helping me put things in proper perspective. This isn’t comfortable to hear, but I think I needed to hear it.
Sophia: That’s what friends are for. Now let’s help each other focus on what life is actually about, attaining the supernatural end for which all people are made. And this begins with responding to God’s invitation of love to be your primary relationship, in this life, now.
Mikos: Okay. Give me a little time to adjust my psyche and lifestyle to this most profound truth, and to begin being an example to my family on what it means to obey the First Commandment. What time is Mass on Sunday?
Sophia: I’ll send you the on-line bulletin. Maybe I’ll see you there.