How can loving our neighbour be a catastophic error?

I am writing on the eve of All Saints Day which presents the Beatitudes as the manifesto of Christian Life. These words turn the world upside down because they seek to discover a God who is the living heart of our world. It is at the heart of our Jewish and Christian heritage that we are called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our mind and with our strength and to love our neighbour as ourselves. This is more than a noble sentiment which cannot be applied to daily life. However, this the radical challenge which Jesus presents to us. He is not a misguided prophet or an altruistic do-gooder, he is the person who gives substance to our lives and the way we are called to be present to God and each other.

What can we discover about God in the beatitudes?

                That people who seek to find God out of their own poverty of spirit will find the Kingdom of heaven. This is not seeking poverty for its own sake but discovering that are lives are only complete when we surrender them to a God who will walk with them in the difficulties, questions and sinfulness.

That people who confront their own violence in actions, thoughts and deeds discover the gentle spirit of God which brings people together rather than driving them apart.

That people who are able to show compassion for others at time of great turmoil and loss experience a way of being present to others which brings comfort and healing.

That people who are able to feel the deep hunger of humanity rather than stand in judgment over it will find a way of being present to others with integrity and truth.

That people who reach out to others with their time and resources will find that the well is never spent.

That people who seek to have a genuine desire to walk with God will see the face of God in others.

That people who seek to bring reconciliation and healing will be changed into being co-creators with God.

That people who walk with Jesus will seek to work with others because they are people created in the image and likeness of God.

That people are called to be the authentic witness of how Jesus walks with them in spite of the many people who would claim that they do not live in the real world. The Gospel calls us to view the whole of creation not as a problem but as a gift, not as a mystery to be solved but a mystery to be lived, as a way of being present to creation with generosity and grace.

What is happening with our life?

When we come to a place of pray we are called to turn up as we are not as we think we should be. Each Sunday allows us to stop a moment and listen to what is happening in our lives. In lives which can be driven by endless activity it is hard to know what to ask for. However, what is most pressing on our minds or our hearts would be good place to start. It is the place of which we are most conscious of and can occupy much of our time. This becomes the most obvious point in which we need to make a faith response. It calls for a surrender of that concern to the person of Jesus. It is not that it will be magically resolved but it will allows to become aware of how Jesus can walk with us in what can often seem complex and difficult situations. Jesus' life always touches what is at the heart of our own and draws forth what is needed for this moment and this day. Just remember: Jesus stops, Jesus Listens, Jesus Asks, and Jesus is present to our faith

Can we do this on our own?

It is easy to recognize that we live in a world where self-service becomes the norm. We witness this not only when we fill up our cars, shop in our supermarkets or even phone up various companies with the push button options. There is a sense of convenience in being able to do it for ourselves and allows us to choose who is in control. However, there is also a sense that we lose that important sense of relationship with the person who provides the service on our behalf. We can tend treat the person as a convenience or a utility which is provided for us. We can also lose a sense of self in relationship to the other.

When we witness Jesus’ talking about servant leadership we discover someone who is willing to put himself in the shoes of another. He recognizes that we often belief that the leader is the one who calls the shots and makes all the decisions. The challenge he provides for the disciples is to take the place of the person who is suffering and to take that suffering upon themselves. Jesus seeks to ransom us from our sin, our suffering, and our belief that we can do this all on our own. Jesus does not call for self-sufficient Christians who look out solely for their own interests but disciples and who can enter into a relationship with God who loves them into life.

Who would we surrender our life to?

The gospel this weekend talks about the difference to living according to the commandments and the living in accord with the spirit of God. Sometimes it is easier to live by the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law. Jesus challenges the young man in the Gospel to completely trust God in a very radical way, he asks him to sell everything and give the money to the poor. His reaction of the young man is one of sadness. It may be good for us to reflect on what is happening in the life of this young man. We already know he is a man who takes his faith seriously, he obeys the commandments, he seeks to follow the way of God and he seeks out the person of Jesus. Even the disciples are shocked by the words of Jesus when they say, who then can be saved? However, I think the central message is that salvation is not initiated by us it is initiated by God. It calls us to open to God’s grace and surrender our lives to the reign of God. Often we can feel that such a surrender will diminish us. The truth is that when we come to those moments of surrender, God enables us to be more richly blessed. These can be life changing moments that change the direction of our lives. The central question is what moves us to become disciples of Jesus Christ and what holds us back?