All teenagers experience
this so-called puppy love, an experience that adds color to their lives. It
makes them inspired. It also brings positive changes in their behavior.
Usually, inspired teenagers go beyond what is expected to them. They transcend
themselves, able to perform remarkable things.
Similarly in the Gospel,
Jesus is inspired with the power of the Spirit and the love of the Father. He
goes beyond what was expected to him, as a son of a carpenter. He begins teaching in the synagogue. He reads
the words of prophet Isaiah and afterwards says to them, “Today these prophetic
words come true even as you listen.’’ His words amaze the Jews and they ask,
“Who is this but Joseph’s son?’’
Jesus was aware of the
possible consequences of his action. But the Spirit of the Father was upon him,
giving him courage to bring changes in the world in spite being labeled a son
of a mere carpenter. He was persecuted and died on the cross to save us from
the slavery of sin. In his paschal mystery, he brought changes in our
relationship with God by making us God’s adopted children.
As Christians, we also
experience in our daily lives this love, the love of God. With the Spirit of
the Lord resting upon us and with the inspiration of our Lord Jesus Christ, we
are encouraged to transcend our faith, to go beyond our capacity as ordinary
men and women, and make positive changes in our Christian life.
Today, becoming a
follower of Christ is not easy. The Christian faith is being attacked by
secularism. True Christians are persecuted by society. We are labeled as
medieval people, unable to cope with the demands of modern world. Maybe, the time
will come when Christianity will be labeled in the same way that Jesus was
labeled—the faith of a mere “son of a carpenter”. However, we are encouraged to
stand for our faith, to commit ourselves to Christ even to the point of
experiencing persecution. This is what Christian love really means. It is more
than the puppy love being experienced by most teenagers. Christian love entails
maturity of faith, the willingness to undergo persecution as what Christ had
experienced. A true Christian has this motto: “Hahamakin ang lahat, masunod ka lamang”. And this could make all
the difference in the world.
God our loving Father,
we ask you to send forth your Holy Spirit upon us. Inspire us O Father, with
your love, for us to be faithful to your word. Give us the courage, to endure every persecution that we
experience in following you. And make us as an instrument of change in this
world. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment