The quintessence of godliness lies
not in the priestly garments
of a holy order
nor in sacred ornaments
adorning neck or crown;
Nor does it lie
in pious demeanour and genuflection,
in outward professions of faith alone,
nor in an untainted genealogy;
not in impressive public prayers
and theological discourse, nor
in ritual and ceremony.
Authentic godliness
wears a common face;
it resides in a heart
sensitive to human need and responsive
to the cries of desperation
of the destitute and of the wounded,
giving unstintingly out of a heart of
love, with no expectation of return.
On such the Father smiles
for they mirror
the very heart of God.
Picture by kgtoh/Bigstock.com
Dr Oliver Seet is a member of Wesley Methodist Church and a Board Director of the Metropolitan YMCA.
