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Extravagant Love
Tag Archives: jesus
Recognizing God Opportunities
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A few years ago, some Christian friends in our parish were studying a book entitled Divine Renovation by Father James Mallon about parish renewal. The book was about bringing Catholic parishes from “maintenance to mission.” Its purpose was to bring renewal to a person’s life by encouraging a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, thereby bringing renewal to the parish.
When I first heard what they were doing, I didn’t respond initially to get involved. One of the tools they were using was the Alpha program, a series of high impact videos followed by small group discussion. The videos deal with life’s biggest questions such as Is There More to Life than this? Why Did Jesus Die? What Does the Holy Spirit Do? How Can I Resist Evil? How Can I Make the Most of the Rest of My Life? It runs for eleven weeks plus a Saturday retreat about the Holy Spirit.
While I was initially reluctant, I attended the first Alpha program and saw that it was indeed leading people to the renewal of their faith.
There is the Old Testament story of Naaman, who was the commander of the Army of the King of Aram and who had leprosy. A young girl from Israel in his household told his wife about the prophet, Elisha who could heal Naaman of his leprosy. Naaman traveled to Israel, expecting Elisha to say a fancy prayer over him with lots of ritual, but Elisha sent a messenger instructing him to go wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman grew angry and went off in a rage, rejecting the opportunity to be healed. His servants persuaded him to reconsider. He did as Elisha instructed, and he was healed of his leprosy. (1 Kings 5:1-14)
How often do we not recognize opportunities that God puts in our lives to bring about his presence more fully in us and in others? After attending the first Alpha course, I joined the team, and we have been conducting Alpha courses for the last five years. Hundreds of parishioners have attended. Many have reported experiencing Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in a way that has deepened their faith.
Is God offering you an opportunity to grow closer to him, or to bring his presence to others?
Who is Jesus?
At one point in Jesus’ ministry he asks the disciples who people were saying he was. “They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’” Jesus came back at them and asked, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:14-15)
Peter steps forward and says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus commends Peter, saying, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” (Mt. 16:16-17)
We may not appreciate how astounding Peter’s declaration was. The Jewish people had been waiting for centuries for the coming of the Messiah. For a thousand years prophets of Israel had been predicting the coming of a Messiah, the “Anointed One.” The Jewish people had built up high expectations who this Messiah would be and what he would do in terms of delivering Israel from its enemies. Some unknown itinerate preacher from a remote locationlike Nazareth hardly met their expectations.
It is clear from Jesus’ initial response that the disciples’ first answer was not satisfactory. They couldn’t get by with mouthing what other people were saying, even though that is how Jesus posed the question. He wanted to hear what they thought and believed.
As Jesus did with the disciples, so he does with us in asking, “But who do you say I am?”
Are we just going along with what others say, with what our parents and the church said about Jesus when we were growing up, or have we truly digested what others say and what scripture says, and have decided for ourselves in our words and actions that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God?
This decision is not without its cost or sacrifice, for Jesus shortly thereafter tells the disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) Believing that Jesus is the Son of God and following him means following his teaching, his example of sacrifice, and God’s will for our lives.
Who do you say Jesus is?
Christ In Life And Work 