What Better Model Could We Ask?

by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D. on October 18, 2011 · 2 comments

Feast of St Luke, Apostle

2 Tm 4:10-17 / Lk 10:1-9

When we hear today’s Gospel about the abundant harvest but the paucity of laborers, our minds tend to go in the direction of the current dearth of vocations and our need to pray for more. That’s a laudable instinct and a good prayer, but it puts an unhealthy distance between ourselves and the perennial problem of who will carry the Good News.

The real answer to that is, of course, that we all must be bearers of the Good News, not necessarily by taking on some formal role in our parishes, but by actively living the Good News. As Christians, we should be readily identifiable as truly and specially human in the best sense, just as Jesus was.

That leads us to ponder what Jesus was and was not, what He regularly did and what He did not. Jesus was brother and neighbor to every person whose path He crossed. He set no barriers against people and included everyone inside the circle of His love. His purpose with each was simply to help him or her thrive. Jesus spent little or no time at all indulging in trivial pious practices, but He spent abundant time both in pondering the Scriptures and in communing silently with the Father.

What better model could we ask?  Jesus, our brother!

By

  • laurak

    I respectfully disagree with your point of view.

    Jesus was very kind to Nicodemus, the ruler of the Jews, because he approached Jesus respectfully with his questions.

    But, there were pharisees and scribes who approached Jesus disrespectfully, to question him and Jesus did not bend over backwards to include them in his circle of friends.

    This is not necessarily a permanent state in which to live, but Christ’s example can be adjusted to individual situations as they occur.

  • Joe DeVet

    I respectfully disagree with laurak. The author said Jesus welcomed all into his circle of love, and tried to help each one thrive. (Didn’t say circle of friends.) This includes Nicodemus, yes, but it also includes the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus had a hissy fit with, calling them “brood of vipers” etc. (Note that it is likely Nicodemus was among this group! Note also that the encounter in Jn 3 could be read as if Nicdemus was being snide and disrespectful.)

    His response to both Nicodemus and to the other Pharisees was loving. As a group, they needed a kick in the butt–it seemed they would not listen otherwise. Jesus was exercising self-sacrificial love in his loud outbursts against the scribes and Pharisees–he knew if they didn’t have a change of heart, they may be the instruments of his own torture and death. Tough, courageous love.

    In this, may we become as loving as Jesus.