Once I attended a seminar on the topic on “God speaks through all religions”. It was an international seminar which had participants from five continents of the world, but most of them were from Asia. The part of the seminar that impressed me was when we gathered for a group discussion and open forum discussions.

I brought home many affirmations, convictions, and discoveries from that seminar, and from time to time, they help me in many ways in my apostolate. However, there was one challenging question posed to us that was on my mind for a very long time - Does your religion have something to do with your bad temper, wrong doings, indiscipline, and improper attitude?

In one of my homilies, I asked the congregation to reflect on this question. Then I went further and told them that if our religion has done nothing to our bad temper, wrong doings, indiscipline, or improper attitude, then it has not done much to our souls.

Why is it that people who claim to love God continue to hurt other people? Why is it that there are people who have are extremely pious, but are proud, arrogant, and deceitful? Why is it that there are people who share daily scriptures, but continue to utter bad words, gossip with friends, and falsely accuse people?

I think the truth is this; before talking about your religion or your devotions, it is better talk first about purity and gentleness of your soul.