True Faith

Our loving God has a plan for each one of us. Each of us is unique. There has never been anyone like you since the beginning of time and there will never be anyone like you again –ever!

God extends an invitation for us to be all that we can be and are destined to be. To make our irreplaceable contribution to those around us, to society and to the world and it’s never too late. We are special and loved by God – that doesn’t change.

In the gospel for the first Sunday of Lent we read that Jesus, led by the Holy Spirit, goes into the wilderness to discover his mission and prepare for it. What kind of Messiah would he be? A provider of material needs a wonder worker, a great earthly king?

Jesus was alone with the Father and tempted by satan to be what he was not. How can we discover our calling, our vocation our mission? We can’t – not by ourselves without God and not if we put anything or anyone before God.

The Reality

When we look around we see the greed for material wealth, the desire to be noticed and be prominent. The need to dominate others and even subjugate other countries, if we are political leaders.

Blessed are the peacemakers they shall be called children of God Jesus said, (Matthew 5.9)

By spending 40 days in the wilderness Jesus emerged to be who he truly was for the sake of humanity -and the world was changed for all time and eternal life with God offered to all.  

Forward

Christians are called to be renewed in Lent and to emerge refreshed and re focussed in our mission. A mission to change things for the better. To accept the invitation and be part of the struggle. To be who we truly are and fulfil God’s dream for our lives.

The Challenge

I am reminded this year of something fundamental about lent. To connect, re connect or go deeper into the dream our loving Father Creator God has for us since the beginning of time and in our mother’s womb.       

Go to You Tube – “The Love I have for you my Lord,” (Only a Shadow) by James Kilbane which encapsulates this message.

yes but we must dig deeper.

Truth of Faith

“Love your enemies,” we read in this Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 5: 38-48)

Surely Jesus could not have meant this to be taken literally? Yet we also read Jesus telling Peter to put up his sword after he cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant in the garden of Gethsemane when they came to arrest him. Those who live by the sword die by the sword, Jesus teaches. The evidence is out there for all to see. On the cross Jesus calls out, Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Luke 23. 34

The Jews expected a Messiah who would liberate them from Roman tyranny. This is why Jesus tried to keep a low profile at times so as to avoid being carried off and proclaimed King.

My Kingdom is not of this world, Jesus tells Pilate. If it were, my servants would have fought to save me. John 18.33-38

This Kingdom is a Kingdom of love which stretches out through eternity where there is no time.

So Jesus did not carry a weapon nor did he resist when after his arrest he was slapped, spat upon and abused. It was Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that paid the price for sin and heralded the way to the Father’s Kingdom.

So non violence is intrinsically bound up with the New Life God would like for all.

Truth of Reality

Martin Luther king, who led the American civil rights campaign in the 1960s, explains this teaching for today. It’s nonsense, he said, for an oppressed people to love their oppressor with an “affectionate emotion.” The civil rights movement adopted non-violent action where violence and hatred had no place; King said love means having an “understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill for everyone.”

What about us? In the words of the Tom Paxton song, “Peace will come, let it begin with me.”

Way Forward.

Can we liberate ourselves from any unforgiveness which has kept us bound?

No! But with God all things are possible.