It seems part of Christian faith that all men and women, sooner or later must make a choice to follow Jesus or not to follow Jesus, to do our best to conform to his teaching the best we can or simply ignore it. Some of us may even go to extremes to fight against any kind of belief in Jesus. Some people think that religion is a thing of the past. Some think that Christians are deluded believing that there is a heaven and hell, angels, saints, and even God. For them, only the here and now is important, because the end result is that we all die and that is the end for us. I am not one of those people.
I believe that God continues to call each of us to repentance and new life in him. For some of us it was an easier choice because we grew up in Christian homes and learned as youngsters the morals and language and church through our parents and family and teachers. We learned about Jesus, our need for forgiveness, and our need to dedicate our selves to following his way of life, the sacraments, prayer, and church attendance.
I can only imagine how difficult it must be for someone who never heard of Jesus, doesn’t know the Bible stories, has never prayed, and only believe the claptrap taught to them by unbelievers as truth. One day while counseling I talked with two men who had master’s degrees who had never heard the story of the Prodigal’s Son. Many children had never heard the Christmas story, didn’t know who Mary and Joseph were, and the stories about them. How can they choose the right path when they don’t know another path exist?
Not everyone knows about Jesus. Not everyone knows that they have been redeemed by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Not everyone has heard that they can live eternally in the presence of God in pure happiness. Is it any wonder that our world is in the shape that it is in? Is it any wonder that ethics and morals are deteriorating? Is it any wonder that there are so many miserable people in the world today?
What about you? Do you believe that Jesus is the answer to your problems and difficulties? Do you believe that by following the teachings of Jesus and the Church that you can live a happier and more satisfying life? Do you believe that God loves you? Do you love God and have given yourself to him? Even those of us who profess our love for God, need to repent of our sinfulness, be forgiven and live better lives.
I beg of you to give yourself to God, pray, say yes to his invitation to repent and change your life and be his follower. Today, more than ever the words of Jesus are calling us. “Repent and change your lives. The kingdom of God is at hand.” If I offered you a billion dollars you would be ecstatic. Jesus is offering us eternal life. Don’t ignore it. All you need to do is ask. We can respond like Mary, “Let it be done unto me, according to your will.” Please Jesus, be the Lord and Center of my life. 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.”
