Friday, December 14, 2001
"Following Jesus requires Love-in-Action!"
"Our love must be not just words or mere talk; love
must be something active and genuine." 1 John
3:18
"Peace-making is... a way of life removing
barriers that separate us from whom we can become so we can become
reconciled with God, ourselves, those around us, the earth, and
humankind."
In this perspective, Branding names these arenas and characteristics
of faithful peacemaking:
spirituality - we trust
in God's grace and promises and are disarmed of fear;
relationships - we are caring
and truthful - nurturing community and sharing power;
life-style - we share and
conserve resources and in other ways also we protect the earth;
conflict - we respect the
dignity of our adversary; we negotiate the issues & seek
areas
of
common security; we reject violence and revenge.
citizenship - we participate!
When the government violates its moral integrity, we risk
challenging
the government!
solidarity with people who
are poor and powerless - we are compassionate; we are
willing
to risk our security to change root causes of pain and injustice.
When we see all this is faithful peace making, we may feel overwhelmed!
Does Jesus really expect you and me to take on this whole load?
I am helped to understand what Jesus expects by Luke's story
of Jesus and the fishermen who "worked all night and caught
nothing." (Luke 5:1-11)
I notice three things especially: 1) Jesus starts where the fisherman
are: exhausted and frustrated by their experience as we may be
by our current experiences. 2) Jesus builds on what they know
how to do - fish - but asks them to go to "the deeper waters."
3) When they find the fish that are there, Jesus calls them to
follow him to the next place of their fishing: among human beings!
In each area listed in bold above, we know how to do something
of what is called for. Jesus asks us to "take the next step."
Reflect on Luke's story and ask, "Where is Jesus calling
me next?"
Myron Talcott
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