WHERE OUR FAITH LEADS US.

 

Born-Catholics often make the observation that the people who join the Church as adults have a much better grasp of the faith than us ‘born-types.’

 

Whenever an adult has to take a definite stand on any position, they will do so with conviction that often arises from a personal struggle. Should I become a Christian person or should I not? Most often, their position in their life’s journey demands a commitment.

 

The way of the Gospel, given to us by Jesus Christ, leads us into the heart and mind of God. Our faith leads us into the very life and outpouring of the Holy Trintiy. We share the very life and heart of God.

 

Now at the same time, Jesus was trying to get rid of a religion that did all the right things, followed all the rules of the religion game,  but did not seek a change of heart. The message that Jesus taught was to get rid of ‘doing’ religion rather than walking and breathing in the very heart of God. 

 

Today, if our Christian religion is lived authentically, we will see that the Gospel leads us to a deeper love for our fellow human being. This is why the closer we actually draw towards God, the closer we will draw to our fellow human being. People have observed that many of our women and men who are deeply into prayer and immersing themselves in the Gospel, are people who are very concerned about the well-being of the elderly, the homeless and the unemployed. The Gospel always leads us to embrace the poverty and the struggles of the neighbor. 

 

But it does not stop there. The Gospel leads us to see in the other, in the little one, the very face of Jesus Christ. We are being shaped to see that in the face of the poor, is the very face of Ghrist. This is why the final judgement after our death we will be confronted by the risen Christ, and what does he recognize in us? 

 

He will not say, ‘you did good’ but rather he will say, “I was hungry and you gave me food.:(Mt. 25, 35) Jesus identifies with the poor and the forgotten ones. Whatever good we do for others, we are very much doing good toward Jesus Christ.

 

This is why we need daily reminders that whatever good we do towards our neighbor, no matter how small, we are doing good to the Risen Jesus. From a heart shaped by the Gospel of Jesus, we are lead to greater love and service. 

 

Countless Christians before us have lived the teaching of Jesus out in very ordinary but in very radical ways. They have made it a daily practice to reach out to the neighbor.

 

Our Christiaan faith is not static. It moves us powerfully toward much greater love for  others. There is no room for selfish people when you live with Jesus.