What we say and do must reflect what we believe in – the kingdom of God and Christian values.

Preaching the sermon at September’s Laventille Devotions last Sunday, Msgr Michael de Verteuil said the vision of what we believe in could at times become obscured.

“Ignorance might be blocking our view”, he said, “or pride may block us from seeing the truth…. We as human beings sometimes believe we can do everything.”

Musicians of Living Water Community

He added that other barriers might be the effects of materialism in our lives and our “busyness” when we become caught up in day-to-day living, limiting our time for spiritual reflection. Msgr de Verteuil noted that even the Church might block our view.

He continued by thanking God for the gift of faith, which could remove the obstacles to seeing the Christian vision - a vision which promises truth, equality and respect.

“The reality of the other world – the kingdom of God – must affect what we do in this one,” he stated. Those who profess to be Christians must therefore live their lives based on faith, he reiterated, adding that this faith in God and the kingdom values would influence how “we treat others, things and the earth”.

Msgr de Verteuil said the world did not have the Christian vision and that was why there exist “divisions, poverty and wars”. He said our vision of the kingdom must dictate our every action.

“We are the people who know where we are going. We are the people called in Trinidad and Tobago to live out this vision in the world. The choices we make must reflect what we see,” he remarked.

Msgr de Verteuil was the main celebrant at the afternoon Mass, with Msgr Urban Peschier and Frs Michael Moses and Ian Taylor concelebrating.

Archbishop Edward Gilbert presided over this month’s devotions and conducted the Benediction. Members of the Living Water Community led the faithful in the recitation of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary and the singing.

Devotions for 2006 close on October 15.