Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of all consolation. How close do you think God is to you? Many of us were born in religious homes or we have grown up in a culture very attached to religion. The word religion itself is used to define a set of rules or beliefs of a certain group of people as well as the reverence or fear they offer to what they believe. Do you think that this definition speaks of a God of love with whom you can have a personal relationship? Of course not! Religions in themselves aim to give a set of moral or ethical rules that their followers must follow, are ideas of men often well-intentioned that teach other men how to behave. Sadly religion has functioned as a substitute for a personal relationship with God. People think that making sacrifices, eternal and repetitive prayers or staying well with the ecclesiastical authorities is closer to God, and, although it is good to sacrifice, pray and honor the authorities, none of this makes you deepen your knowledge and love Oh my God! Reading the title "God of all consolation" speaks to us of a close God, a God who loves us, who cares for our sorrows, who wants to embrace us, to heal and raise up but how are we going to know this God if we filter him to through our religious beliefs and we have never given ourselves the opportunity to know him personally? For Paul, God was not a religion, it was his merciful Father who consoled him at all times.