I believe in God.

The statement “I believe in God” is the source of all other truths about man, the world, and the whole life of every believer. We believe in only one God; we are monotheists, not polytheists. And why? Because according to the testimony of the Holy Scriptures, there is only one God, and also, according to the laws of logic there can only be one God. If there were two gods, one would be both the limit and limitation of the other, and neither would be infinite; neither would be perfect; therefore, neither would be the true God. Israel’s basic experience with God is as follows: “Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4). The prophets repeatedly call the people to renounce false deities and to turn to the only God: “For I am God, and there is no one else.” (Is 45:22)

Monotheistic religions include Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The question of why God calls himself by name can be interesting for us earthlings. It is because he wishes to be addressed. God does not wish to remain unknown – incognito. He also does not want to be worshiped only as a feeling or imagined “higher being.” God desires to be known and addressed as real and active. In the burning bush, God reveals himself to Moses as the living God, “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” (Ex 3:6). Then God reveals to Moses his holy name: YHVH – YAHWEH – I am that I am – I am present (Ex 3:14). God thus allows his people to call to him. Yet, he remains a hidden God; he remains a present Mystery. Out of respect, God’s name was not pronounced in Israel – and it is not pronounced – it is replaced by the honorable name ADONAI – Lord. The New Testament also uses this very word,

While all creatures have received all they are and have from God, only God is the fullness of being and all perfection. He is “that which is,” without beginning and end. Jesus reveals that he too has God’s name: “I am.” (John 8:28). By revealing his name, God makes known the richness of his unspoken mystery: He alone is, forever and ever, transcending the world and history. He made heaven and earth. He is a faithful God who is always close to his people to save them. He is holy after rebuke, “infinitely merciful” (Eph 2:4), always willing to forgive. He is a spiritual, supernatural, omnipotent, eternal, personal, perfect being. It is truth and love, the path and goal of our human existence.

It is only natural that God gave us humans something to help us achieve our eternal goal – the salvation of the soul. This gift is the Eucharist – Jesus is mysteriously present in bread and wine. The Eucharist is the guarantee of our happy, eternal life. Jesus spoke about this several times. (see John 6:22-71, 1 Cor 11:17-34 and we could give other quotes). The same law applies here as in the order of nature: He who eats the food of the fields lives – he who does not eat dies. He who eats the food of the Eucharist lives – he who does not eat dies. It is up to each of us if we accept this truth and how we enter eternity.

There is one more thing that is strange, interesting, and about God. Jesus dies on the cross praying, as someone who does not forget the first commandment of the Ten Commandments – to worship God, his only one: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Lk 27:46), as well as “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk 23:46). Jesus prays the 22nd psalm, the prophetic psalm of the terrible suffering of the Messiah turns into a prediction of the Eucharist: “The meek will eat to their fill.” (psalm 22:2) The filling of the meek with new manna comes from the cross. Jesus, King of heaven and earth, grant us places in your kingdom when we complete our life journey after many trials and all the struggles. Come to your kingdom, in which there is no more pain, in which there are no more painful tears, where eternal well-being and eternal joy illuminate all the blessed cheeks.