In recent news, we have seen bombings in Boston and now chemical warfare against civilians in the Middle East. Why is it that humankind can not interact as human to human but rather with animal instinct as survival of the most powerful? It is society at its worst. It does not matter who we step on, what happens to the other person, or what means we us, as long as we get our way, our success, we win. Well it is not really we is it? It is I. That the person behind the words or actions is only interested in what he or she ultimately gets in the end. And we must be careful about lumping everyone in a particular group with those individuals.
In His time walking among mankind, Jesus taught compassion, understanding, acceptance. In all that Jesus said and did, it was clear that the first step to conversion of belief in the one true God was allowing the individual the opportunity for a new start. To change lives and being anew. And yet society still does not get it. If I don't have the current 'correct' view, I am an extremist or right wing. I am a bigot or 'unChrist-like'. We need to remember that Jesus never condemned any for not accepting him. He would be saddened and continue to try to reach out for acceptance of the good news, but He never attacked others. Exception given for overturning the money changing tables in the temple. That's for another post.
Even the Pharisees and Sadducees were constantly given the chance to accept the word of God. As followers of Jesus, we need to remember this not matter which side of an issue we stand for, we need to remember that on the other side stands another of Gods children. We have to remember that we have a right to agree or disagree, no matter how badly that may make us fell. And above all, we must remember that if some individuals forget this and go to extremes, it does not mean all who are on that side of the issue feel that extreme was right. We must forgive, accept and move on, else we are doomed to be visited by regret, despair, and defeat.
When the young man who desperately wanted to follow Jesus was told to give up all that he had, he turned and walked away because he could not change his life so drastically. And Jesus? He watched the man leave. he did not chase him. He did not condemn him. He did not declare him an enemy. He simply said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. No one said following Christ would be easy. It sure hasn't been for me and my family. But we do our best. And we don't try to change our beliefs to fit our lives, we change our lives to follow our belief in the Catholic faith.
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