Many years ago, John Lennon sang a song called “Imagine”. At the time it seemed pretty cool. The melody was soft and gentle, almost hypnotic. The lyrics invited people to imagine that there was no heaven, nor hell, and no religion, and no countries. There were no rich or poor. Everyone was happy and one. For me, growing up scared of hell and a very angry, merciless God, Lennon’s message was very appealing.
Then, I encountered Jesus. Growing up in a Catholic Christian home I learned a lot about Jesus, but never met him. While sitting in my dorm room at Central Michigan University, I listened intently to a young man explain to my room mate a different kind of Jesus. He explained that while heaven and hell are real, God never intended anyone to go to hell and that heaven was open to anyone willing to give themselves to Jesus and accept him as Savior and Lord. I had an overwhelming desire to know this Jesus who was compassionate, loving, accepting, empathetic, forgiving and kind. Not scarey.
The young man noticed me listening and asked if I was ready to meet Jesus. I simply said yes and he prayed with me. Nothing much changed, but in the days that followed, I found myself praying more. I noticed that the Jesus of the Bible was not the distant Judge that I thought he was, but a gentle, loving, yet truthful God, who wanted to know me, too! I wanted to learn all I could about Jesus and the Church he established. I couldn’t get enough of Jesus. The mass and the sacraments came alive. They were always there for me, but until I met Jesus, I was not there for them.
I would like to challenge you to do some imagination with me. As Christians we believe in the Communion of Saints, and we ask them to be with us at mass. Imagine, the next time you go to mass that the angels and saints are with us around the altar. Imagine your deceased loved ones are there, too. Why, because they are! Some of us think that because our churches are not full of living people, that our churches are not full. I reality, not just imagination, our churches are bursting at the seams with the presence of Jesus, the Angels, the saints, and our deceased loved ones, worshiping the Trinity. How privileged we are to be one with them!
My wish is that everyone would meet Jesus, declare their belief in him, and let him be the Lord and Savior and Center of their life. One thing I know for sure, once you meet Jesus, your life will never be the same. “Jesus, I invite you into my life. You are my Lord and Savior. I want to live my life with you. Amen”.
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you his peace.”
