Who
do you love and cherish the most? God did not intend for us to be alone, but to
be with others. He gives us many opportunities for developing relationships
with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Why did Jesus, on this
occasion, seem to ignore his own relatives when they pressed to see him? His
love and respect for his mother and his relatives was unquestionable. Jesus
never lost an opportunity to teach his disciples a spiritual lesson and truth
about the kingdom of God. On this occasion when many gathered to hear Jesus he
pointed to another higher reality of relationships, namely our relationship
with God and with those who belong to God.
What
is the essence of being a Christian? It is certainly more than doctrine,
precepts, and commandments. It is first and foremost a relationship - a
relationship of trust, affection, commitment, loyalty, faithfulness, kindness,
thoughtfulness, compassion, mercy, helpfulness, encouragement, support,
strength, protection, and so many other qualities that bind people together in
mutual love and unity. God offers us the greatest of relationships - union of
heart, mind, and spirit with himself, the very author and source of love (1
John 4:8,16). God's love never fails, never forgets, never compromises, never
lies, never lets us down nor disappoints us. His love is consistent,
unwavering, unconditional, and unstoppable. Nothing can deter him from ever
leaving us, ignoring us, or treating us unkindly. He will love us no matter
what. It is his nature to love. That is why he created us - to be united with
him and to share in his love and unity of persons (1 John 3:1). God is a
trinity of three divine persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and a
community of love. That is why Jesus challenged his followers and even his own
earthly relatives to recognize that God is the true source of all
relationships. God wants all of our relationships to be rooted in his love.
Jesus
is God's love incarnate - God's love made visible in human flesh (1 John
4:9-10). That is why Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd who lays down
his life for his sheep and the shepherd who seeks out the sheep who have
strayed and lost their way. God is like the father who yearns for his prodigal
son to return home and then throws a great party for his son when he has a
change of heart and comes back (Luke 15:11-32). Jesus offered up his life on
the cross for our sake, so that we could be forgiven and restored to unity and
friendship with God. It is through Jesus that we become the adopted children of
God - his own sons and daughters. That is why Jesus told his disciples that
they would have many new friends and family relationships in his kingdom.
Whoever does the will of God is a friend of God and a member of his family -
his sons and daughters who have been ransomed by the precious blood of Christ.
An
early Christian martyr once said that "a Christian's only relatives are
the saints" - namely those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ
and adopted as sons and daughters of God. Those who have been baptized into
Jesus Christ and who live as his disciples enter into a new family, a family of
"saints" here on earth and in heaven. Jesus changes the order of
relationships and shows that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and
blood. Our adoption as sons and daughters of God transforms all of our
relationships and requires a new order of loyalty to God first and to his
kingdom of righteousness and peace. Do you want to grow in love and friendship?
Allow God's Holy Spirit to transform your heart, mind, and will to enable you
to love freely and generously as he loves.
(Servants of the word)
BAKE
SALE – June 16-17 - Please put your name on the baking list if you can help
with the baking. We need your help to make this bake sale a successful one for
Sharelife.
We
also need help on the day – June 16 – 17.
Thankyou.
Totus
Tuus – Please register for Totus Tuus soon as spaces are going fast
Fr. Phil
