Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (1/18/2009)

Dear People of Holy Name,

As soon as Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan he begins his public ministry. Two of John’s disciples hear that Jesus is the “Lamb of God,” and immediately follow him. Andrew, one of the two, gets his brother Simon whom Jesus names Peter and the early church begins.

What always strikes me in the stories of Jesus choosing his disciples is the radical change his followers make in their lives. It seems instantaneous. What it underscores for me is the radically different life a disciple comes to live. For us who choose to follow Jesus, and who are chosen by him in the Holy Spirit, our lives become transformed into his. We no longer live, but he lives in us as St. Paul once said. In time we come to think and act like Christ, which can be radically different from the way our culture teaches us to act.

As we read the scriptures and hear God’s spirit speaking to our hearts, we come to know that Jesus is the Truth, the Way and the Life. Inspired by his holiness we are drawn to him and strive to live like him. It is then we become a people who are peacemakers. We seek understanding not judgment, and are willing to die for another, so that they may come to the truth in their lives and not be condemned. We love others not because they are good to us, or that we might gain points with God, but that our loving might bring them the conversion God desires for them.

Here I think again of the Grand Knight of the KKK out West, who took it upon himself to persecute a Jewish family who moved into his small town. He was mean and threatening in word and action, and put a bit of fear in the Jewish man’s heart. In time the Jewish man reached out to the Grand Knight who was wheel chair bound and offered to take him places if he needed a ride.

Eventually the Grand Knight’s heart softened, he accepted the Jewish man’s charity and the two became friends, with the Grand Knight leaving the KKK and looking into the Jewish faith. Had the Jewish man responded with judgment and defense they would have remained enemies and the Grand Knight a member of the KKK. When we are willing to love as we are loved by Christ, the Spirit can do amazing things. Our discipleship is affirmed and others come to know the Lord.

With the Scriptures today, we celebrate that God has called us to be his disciples. We are reminded of the greatness of our call to love and Christ’s love. God depends on us to continue his work, and to the degree we are faithful, we become his presence, his love, his saving grace to others. Is this easy? No, and that is why he continues to give himself to us in the Eucharist, to nourish our baptismal faith so that in community, strengthened and inspired by one another, we can love greatly and give our all.

This week let us take time in our prayer to pray with Samuel, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ Let us hear God calling us in our hearts and teaching us to love as he would love, with each new day. Then we will be his faithful disciples, the rock on which he builds his Kingdom. Let us also pray for each other that together we may be the people he calls to himself.

In Christ’s peace, Fr. Leo