Own Your Identity

This morning, I read an article about Matthew McConaughey on raising his children in affluence. He is teaching them to embrace being affluent. Do not feel guilty on having a successful father. Rather, own it. Live your identity!

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I remembered having the same challenge when growing up, coming from an affluent family. Other kids would often say that we were spoiled, because we ride nice cars, our mom cared enough to always bring us snack from home, and every holiday, our parents would always plan a vacation, no matter how near or far. Other kids’ utterances and attitude towards me were enough to twist my blessing into a “misfortune”. I feel guilty because I come from a loving, well-to-do family. How twisted is that?

That made me to question my faith right now: Due to the state of the world right now, am I somehow ashamed of being a Catholic? How comfortable am I to admit that I am Catholics in public? Am I ashamed to admit that I have a God whom I can call Father, I believe in Mother Mary, and also have a friend and Lord in Jesus, who loves me so much that He died for me? Can I own and live my identity as a Catholic, as a friend of Jesus, as a child of God with ease? Or do I let my Catholic faith and identity be twisted into an “embarrassment”?

Yes, I am so privileged to know God our father as a Catholic. Yes, its teaching is so rich that to compare what I know to the actual depth is embarrassing. So, yes, there is a lot that I do not know yet because I can (and maybe should) spend a lifetime trying to know, to love and to serve God our Father. And yes, I am a nerd who enjoys contemplating His Words.

I hope this is a (re)start for me, in being truly faithful.