Faith is a curious thing. Its like other experiences of trust. Most frequently we discover a relationship of trust by our encounters with others. I often ask couples who are getting married how they met their partner. So often the response is the same. They discovered their spouse by meeting them through others. A friend introduced them, a classmate suggested they contact this person, the person was part of a group they were in. Many persons play a part in planting and nurturing our relationships. Faith is one of these relationships. Who has played a role our own relationship with Jesus the Christ? Who has brought us to our faith community? Who supports us in this faith?
In the Fall season, the activity levels in our Christian communities rise. This is not simple busyness. It is a recognition that our Christian communities are human communities. We live in many relationships, families, friendships, work colleagues, neighbours. One of our most significant ties is seen when we realize that life takes on meaning as a community of disciples of Jesus the Christ. In this community we have a call to share the Good News and nurture the faith of one another.
The Gospel writer Mark helps to discover how we encountered our faith and how it is nurtured over the years. Most explicitly, Mark, in chapter 8:27-35 draws us to see that for Jesus the Good News of the Kingdom he proclaimed was lived out in his actions, actions of sacrifice for others. When he asked his followers: “Who do people say that I am”? A host of response were reported – from John the Baptist to the Old Testament prophets. Peter finally hit the nail on the head. “You are the Christ.” Jesus is the Messiah, the one whom Israel, the prophets and the many figures of the Old Testament were awaiting. He is the one who is the sign that the Kingdom of God is among us.
Mark goes on to tell of Jesus announcing his ultimate rejection, suffering and death,….for the sake of the Kingdom. The Kingdom will fall on deaf ears for many. They will not realize or understand that the transition to the Kingdom includes a dying to self for the sake of others. In Jesus we see that to be a follower of Jesus, involves sacrifice, i.e. living and acting for the good of others. As he puts it in Mark: “[The one who would be his disciple,] let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
The Good News is full of episodes in which Jesus reveals the Kingdom as present in the compassion and care of his own life. The ultimate giving of his life follows on innumerable instances where Jesus in his actions, is giving his life for others in their needs. Often, we view Jesus’s actions of healing, forgiveness and outreach to the isolated and rejected, as miracles. We fail to recognize that these wondrous acts are above all signs of the Kingdom of God alive in our midst.
We live in a world marked by life, but also marred by death. There is an ultimate death, but also many “little deaths” - hatreds, rejections of others, wars, broken relationships, injustice, intolerance and domination. These are all evidence that our life is wounded.
Into this world of woundedness Jesus has entered with the message and mission that the Kingdom of God is present. Yes, it is a message of the full and ultimate eternal life. But the message and the mission of Jesus brings life to where there is any instance of death. Just a glance of how Jesus acts in the Gospels reveals his love and compassion bringing healing, reconciliation and peace where he reaches out and cares for and about others. As his disciples, our call is to “take up his cross and follow.” This is to build the kingdom of justice, love and peace where we walk. To live as Jesus has done.
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