John ESENE

Jesus was burning with the zeal to start His mission; hence He had to stay behind while His Mother Mary and Blessed Joseph left for home. When they found Him later His Mother said to Him, “My Son, why have you done this to us? Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?” Lk 2:48-49. As a Christian, how anxious are you to lead others to God through your words and actions? Can people identify you as a Christian by your way of life? The early Christians were so named by their mode of life.

We experience the life of Jesus when God forgives us our sins and reconcile us with Him. When Mary Magdalene encountered Jesus, she became a changed person: She gave up her old-ways, loved God more than ever before; developed the urge to seek Jesus always to be with Him.  While others were hiding from the high priest and his cohorts, Mary Magdalene defiled the oppositions and went boldly to the grave side to pay Jesus homage.

Those who were privileged to see Him physically doubted Him and lost the opportunity to be saved wondering if any good thing could come from Nazareth. Jesus has given us the grace to feel His presence spiritually; let us not go empty handed. Let Jesus bless us. In Gen. 32:26, Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me”.

Someone wrote, “Just when life seems most confused, most upended, most completely dismantled, we get our clearest glimpse of God in life. Then, the Word of God and the life of Jesus becomes most clear and Jesus most present to us. Then we are called to believe and begin again”. We should not just celebrate the Risen Lord without allowing Him to have a place in our hearts. It is only then that our Christianity will be meaningful in our lives.

Dear readers, rejoice for salvation has come our way! “You know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. The night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day” Rom 13:11-13.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” Jn 3:16. It is no more rumor or time to wonder if God will fulfill His promise to save us. Irrespective of your sins, approach Jesus, Our Redeemer for your salvation like the prodigal son and you will be happy you did.

Many waited for this prophecy to be fulfilled but were not lucky to see it happen. Most of those who witnessed it were doubtful if any good thing could come from Nazareth.  Some wanted Jesus to be a warrior to deliver them from the oppression of the Romans before they could accept Him as their Messiah. But God’s way is not our way!

God has shown a lot of concern for us, we should be concern with others needs as well as their salvation. Pope Francis says, “When we are healthy and comfortable, we forget about others (something God the Father never does); we are unconcerned with their problems, their sufferings and the injustices they endure ….. As long as I am relatively healthy and comfortable, I don’t think about those less well off.”

God wants us to reach out to other people who need our help for their conversion, financial assistance, counseling and other things to change their situation for good. “Peter was still trying to understand what the vision was meant, when the Spirit said, ‘Listen! Three men are here looking for you. So get ready  and go down, and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” Acts 10:19-20. That was how Peter went to Captain Cornelius and his followers to continue the evangelism. You too are expected to lead others to Jesus today.

“Go up onto the high mountain, O messenger of good news to Zion; lift up your voice and cry out, O messenger of good news to Jerusalem, lift it up, do not fear, announce to the cities of Judah: ‘Here is your God!’ He reduces the princes to naught, and turns the rulers of the earth into nothingness.” Isaiah 40: 9, 23.

We are not only encouraged to help the needy among us but also to lead others to God. Eli in his wisdom and humility directed Samuel who heard a voice calling him. How willing are you to direct the strayed to God?  Like Samuel, God may call you for a specific assignment and unless you listen, you may not hear him. We have reasons to emulate John the Baptist who was so humble to have allowed his followers (Andrew and companions.) to follow Jesus, the Lamb. As Christians, we should be able to lead others to Christ: the Way, the Truth and Light.

To live the fullness of life, we should face the reality of life, life in God which will make us remain alive. Other things such as money, power and position are good but they will fail and fade away because we merely acquire them for a short term usage; they do not last. You can now sing with me, “Fade, fade, each earthly joy”.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25-26.  Dear friend, reflect on your life today and find out if you truly believe in Christ as the resurrection and life. Like the early Christians, wherever you live and work, let your words and actions show that you are a Christian!