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Sunday, February 7, 2021

Called to Pursue Jesus - Reflection 5th Sunday OTB

Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen

Bishop Robert Barron’s Sunday Sermon is titled “What Our Lives Must be About.” I haven’t listened yet, but God speaks to me in those words to truly discover and understand what our life here in this existence must be all about.  

God is giving us this in our Mass readings. But, if we listen closely he gives us that message in all the scriptures as we venture more deeply into a relationship with him.

Although, I’m no great theologian, God puts in my heart in prayers and understanding that moves me closer to that understanding.

It begins with this truth: God created us for good works.(Eph 2:10)  

God has a plan for creation. He knows what He wants to get done. It is his vision of glory. It includes us.

Since His plan includes us, God has put part of that plan in our hearts. It is a longing for Him. That is part of our being. It is part of us that only God can truly fill.

Everyone has that desire for God in our hearts. To fulfill that desire, human hearts will search a lifetime to find what can fill that wanting.  They call it something that will make them complete. But, some in the freedom of their creation deny God and fill that longing with things of this world. They are never truly satisfied.

God sent us the one that can help us with that emptiness inside us.

God created us in Christ Jesus; by finding Jesus, some find God. Yet, even though many know about Jesus, not everyone knows what their lives must be about.

Simon and his companions pursued Jesus. They hunted for Jesus. They said everyone was searching for him; but even then, Simon, his companions and everyone else didn’t know exactly what they were looking for from Jesus.

When Jesus walked with the multitudes, many could not accept what following Jesus is about; so many returned home. They turned to other things. Those things become the normal.

But for those who truly have found Christ and are created in Christ, then that part of God’s creation in us that is a desire to know God is fulfilled.  Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Jesus wants everyone to know God’s message.

I have to go out to the neighboring towns to proclaim the message that is what I have come to do.  He goes out to those who have found the things of this world instead of God. He seeks the sinners, tax collectors, and yes, even Pharisees and scribes.

He is going after the lost sheep. He is looking for the lost coin. He is opening the heart of the prodigal son so that he can run back to the loving arms of the Father.

We are to do the same thing.

St. Paul writes, we are all called to bring the message of Jesus Christ to others. As Christians it is our obligation. It is because of who we are. It is because we are all sinners. It is because we have experienced suffering.

It is because of our life experiences that we may have once lived and survived by the grace of God that we bring a true witness of the Good News of Jesus Christ to the lost sheep, the prodigal sons and daughters, and to all sinners.

If we preach the gospel, we share in the gospel.

God’s merciful love created us. He made us who we are. The lives we live in this world can make us something other than God’s beautiful creation. All are sinners. But, when we open our hearts to let Christ Jesus enter the place God has created in us; what we become is truly our gift back to God.

Our lives can be lived to fulfill the vision of God’s glory. We must proclaim the Gospel. We must share Christ with as many as possible.

God tells us that is what our lives must be about.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way we live our lives and love one another. Amen

Praise be Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.

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