TOGETHER IN CHRIST COLLABORATIVE
Church of Saint Ann
West Bridgewater MA
Website: stannswb.com
St. John The Evangelist
East Bridgewater MA
Website: stjohneb.org
February 23, 2025
My Dear Friends in Christ,
Last week we saw a Jesus that jarred us, one who was not the “warm and fuzzy Jesus” of whom I referred with regards to my seminary training and of whom we often think when we picture who Jesus is for us. Last week, in the rendering of the Beatitudes, Luke presented a Savior who was not afraid to challenge people’s thinking on who was of value in society (poor/rich, hungry/full, weeping/happy). This week’s gospel presents Jesus as one who is once again not afraid to defy “conventional wisdom” on the ideas of love and forgiveness.
In today’s gospel, which comes on the heels of last week’s gospel passage, Jesus tells the listener/reader that for one to be considered a follower of Jesus, one cannot merely live their lives by the dictates of the world. If one is to be a follower of Jesus, one must “rise above the fray” and think (and act) differently than the world – in essence, one must be BETTER than the world. This should not be a radical thought to the Christian, for while we live in the world we should never live so much of the world that we forget why we are here. We are here, Jesus and the Church would tell us, to build up the Kingdom here on earth so that one day we may live in God’s Eternal Kingdom. If we are to do this, we must think/act differently. Thus, Jesus speaks of us to “love your enemies…bless those who curse you...” (Lk 6:27-28) and “turn the other cheek” (Lk 6:29, paraphrased), among other things. This is challenging because it makes us seem weak, like “doormats”. Quite the contrary, these challenges make us strong – not in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of God. When we realize that our strength is in God, we are truly free to be the people who God calls us to be, and our “reward will be great” (Lk 6:35).
I realize that when one reads this, one can be disheartened because to live up to these standards can seem impossible. We are reminded in scripture, however, that “with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). Our reliance must be on God if we are to “succeed” in living the Christian life. We cannot live as the world lives, even while we live in the world, for our ultimate destiny isn’t the world – it’s the Kingdom. May we strive to live as “Kingdom People”. May we continue to live as Jesus would call us to live, even/especially when it is difficult. May we trust the Lord’s promise that He would not leave us abandoned, that He would be with us until the end of the end of time as we know it here on Earth.
Have a Blessed Week,
Fr. Paul