MARONITE MAGAZINE

In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives. Our 4th
w i f e i s o u r b o d y . N o m a t t e r h o w m u c h t i m e a n d e f f o r t w e
l a v i s h i n m a k i n g i t l o o k g o o d , i t w i l l l e a v e u s w h e n w e
d i e . O u r 3 r d w i f e i s o u r p o s s e s s i o n s , s t a t u s a n d w e a l t h .
When we die, it will all go to others. Our 2nd wife is
our family and friends. No matter how much they have
been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is
up to the grave. And our 1st wife is our Soul. Often
neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of
t h e w o r l d . H o w e v e r , o u r S o u l i s t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t w i l l
f o l l o w u s w h e r e v e r w e g o .
Our souls are our most valuable possession, it is worth
m o r e t o u s t h a n a l l w o r l d l y p o s s e s s i o n s . T h e s o u l i s
o u r s e l f , i t i s t h e e n t i t y w i t h i n u s t h a t p e r c e i v e s ,
r e m e m b e r s , r e a s o n s , w i l l s , p r a y s , h o p e s , b e l i e v e s , l o v e s ,
sins and can be saved.
T h e s p i r i t i s G o d ’ s c o n n e c t i o n t o m a n a n d t h e s o u l ,
t h o u g h i d e n t i c a l t o t h e S p i r i t s t a n d s f o r i n d i v i d u a l .
The soul is life inherent in our bodies and distinguishes
one person from another. The soul determines who we
are - our personalities, our egos, our very self.
Just like we all have our own DNA, no two people are
a l i k e , e v e r y p e r s o n i s u n i q u e b u t e v e r y b o d y i s
s o m e b o d y i n G o d ’ s w o r l d , G o d h o n o u r e d u s b y m a k i n g
u s t h i s w a y a s H e w a n t e d u s t o k n o w w e a r e a l l
i m p o r t a n t t o H i m . O u r b r a i n s a r e t h e e d u c a t o r s o f o u r
soul and the soul is responsible for controlling and
overcoming the sinful desires of the body.
G o d c r e a t e d u s w i t h p u r e s o u l s , i t i s u p t o u s t o n u r t u r e
our souls. In our quest to gain treasures in this life we
place God on hold, caught up in a whirlwind of luxury.
T h e s e t r e a s u r e s y o u m a y s e e t o d a y r e m a i n h e r e .
The only lasting treasure is God - we must see our
t r e a s u r e s a h e a d o f u s t o h e a v e n b y d o i n g g o o d d e e d s
and honouring God - the goodness of a kind soul will
last all the way to heaven.
I t i s s a d p r o o f t h a t h u m a n s h a v e e v i l a n d c o r r u p t
natures, so sad that Our Lord thought it necessary to
u s e s u c h l a n g u a g e a s “ . . . . W h a t p r o f i t s a m a n , i f h e g a i n s
the whole world and loses his soul...”
W e m e e t u p w i t h f r i e n d s a n d e n q u i r e a b o u t t h e i r h e a l t h
but I have never heard anyone enquire about other
souls. We are intent upon this earth we walk on and
seem to confine all our concerns to our present lives.
W e s t r u g g l e i n t h i s l i f e b u t f e w a p p e a r t o c a r e a b o u t
the Eternal Life.
O u r l i v e s s h o u l d b e a s i l e n t w i t n e s s t o t h e G o s p e l ,
s t r i v i n g t o d o g o o d a n d s h o w i n g e a c h o t h e r w h a t g r e a t
things God has done for us.
I n c o n c l u s i o n , I i n v i t e y o u t o c u l t i v a t e , s t r e n g t h e n a n d
c h e r i s h y o u r s o u l , f o r i t i s t h e o n l y p a r t o f u s t h a t w i l l
f o l l o w u s t o t h e t h r o n e o f G o d a n d c o n t i n u e w i t h u s
throughout Eternity.
Let us preserve and nurture our souls until that day
when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed. Let our
s p i r i t u a l p r o f i t b e a r i n t e r e s t e t e r n a l l y a n d m a y a l l o u r
decisions be made with eternity in mind.
FR MAURICE CHIDIAC
Vice Superior of the Maronite Catholic Missionaries in
SA