However, we choose to live our religion, it is empty if it fails to lead us towards discipleship of the Jesus who taught us to live with courage, compassion, integrity and fearlessness, ever conscious of God’s Spirit somehow present under the messiness of the troubles which surround us, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald.
'The Lord is not God of the dead, but of the living'
'Hurry down - I mean to come to your house today'
Those of us who call ourselves Christian, commit ourselves to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, to live in accord with his Gospel, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald. We know from experience that conversion of mind and heart is a life-long journey. It is rarely the consequence an instant, life-changing event similar to the dramatic experience that turned the life of Saul of Tarsus upside down. Still, in different ways, Jesus says to each of us, as he said to Zacchaeus in this Sunday’s Gospel : “I mean to come and stay in your house.”
Lord, be merciful to me a sinner
Having been created in the image of the God who loved us into life, we must accept that, like God, all of us are good, creative, loving and free when we are at our best, reflects Christian Brother Julian Mcdonald. Sure, we need to acknowledge to ourselves and others that there are times when we are sinful, but such acknowledgement is meant to lead us to put our hope and trust in God, who not only respects and treasures us, but trusts us to be instruments of peace, compassion and mercy for others.
Returning and sharing God's gracious love
During his public ministry, Jesus repeatedly reminded the religious leaders, who watched him so intently in the hope of catching him breaking the Law, that compassion trumped inflexible legalism. In healing people and restoring them to community, Jesus reminded them that they, in their turn, had a responsibility to live differently, to bring life and love, compassion and understanding to people around them, reflects Br Julian McDonald CFC.