Weekly THIS AND THAT for February 25, 2007: Is Jesus Believable?

This and That:
Is Jesus Believable?

Over the next six weeks of Lent, each week will feature the presentation given at the Lenten Family Friday the Friday before. It can therefore serve as a refresher for those who attended and perhaps an incentive to others to try the next Friday out. Mass on the Fridays is at 6:30pm followed by supper for the entire family at 7:00pm. The presentations begin at 7:30pm with nursery and age-appropriate children’s activities. Youth are welcome to attend and help us out in serving, takedown, or working with the children.

The overall theme of the evenings’ talks is “How What We Believe Can Make a Difference.” The thought here is that believing should have an impact on our actions and ultimately on the quality of our lives. Sacred Scripture tells us that belief without actions is no belief at all. The first presentation begins, as it should, at the beginning, namely with Jesus himself. Is he believable or was he simply an itinerant preacher who meant well, but whose words were either unreasonable or, if true, he could not be trusted?

Why is the question even pertinent today? While spirituality in America is high, religious practice is not what it was in the past. Without the support of religious practice one is less inclined to hear the scriptures, be preached a homily, celebrate with other believers, and feed on the Body and Blood of the Lord. One wonders why spirituality can be up and worship down? In our discussion, we would like to present Jesus as a person who is indeed believable, but to look into precisely why he is so. For someone to be believable, whether it is a bystander, friend, family member or Jesus himself, several things must be present. We must know WHO he is, know WHAT he says, have a RELATIONSHIP with him and be able to TRUST him. What is true of anyone in our daily lives is also true of Jesus.


Who Is he?

Our first consideration, then, becomes, “Who is Jesus?” For an answer, we turn to Philippians 2:5ff: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.”

From this quote, let’s look at Jesus as “God.” From the very beginning Jesus was called “Lord.” In the early church, the honor and glory due to God were also seen as due to Jesus, after all, he was seen as “in the form of God.” Jesus’ sovereignty can be seen in God raising him from the dead. And yet, while, God, he was also a man just like us. His character and teachings were so attractive, that folks followed him. All were amazed at what he did for the sick and sinners, how he spoke with authority and challengingly, and the way he lived, simply and prayerfully.

What implications of Jesus as both human and divine could be drawn, implications for our own daily living? For starters, he lives our lives with their ups and downs, with the pains and joys; he dies our death so he helps us see how we too might face the coming of that final day for ourselves. In addition, Jesus models a life of concrete values and choices that we might emulate. Finally, he teaches us how to contact and interact with God.


What Does He Say?

Jesus’ words are often about healing, which show his intimate relationship to God or they may be about the poor and lowly, which show the need for humble hearts or he speaks practically of love and turning the other cheek. Finally, he speaks of forgiveness and the need to forgive without limit. He follows up what he says with his own actions, with signs and wonders, and concludes with an invitation to follow in his footsteps. And it is in this way we learn the secrets of the Kingdom of God.

Table discussion centered on which actions or teachings of Jesus you find most compelling: healing, being poor and lowly, love, or forgiveness?


Having a Relationship with Him

Entering God’s Reign is about having a new relationship. It is about a growing recognition that, “I am loved by God and that I need to respond to that love.” Being drawn into a relationship with Jesus Christ, as a living, breathing human being wants to make me imitate him. However, this relationship of a disciple to the Master is not something that just magically happens; it must be worked on regularly.

Any change in how I relate to another can come about in one of two ways. I can “think my way into acting” or I can “act my way into thinking.” For example, children learn to become adults by playing house. With such games, they are “acting their way into thinking.” In a similar fashion the hospital intern “acts his way into thinking” he is a doctor by playing the part. On the other hand, “thinking your way into acting” might come from attending a workshop on self-assertion or going through therapy. Coaching girls on a soccer team would seem to approach transformation from both “acting” and “thinking.”

So do we “act” like Jesus and thus become like him or do we learn of Jesus and “think” our way into acting? It may have more to do with personalities and how we learn things best.


How Might We Trust Him?

The final question we considered had to do with trust. As we do with a friend or spouse whom we seek out for advice, perspective, or support, we would want to count on Jesus in the same way.

It has been said that a moment calling for trust must necessarily also be a time of risk, trial, pain, suffering, or darkness where we place ourselves at the hands of the one to whom we look. Participants were asked to surface such a time for themselves and how their faith in Jesus Christ made a difference. We shared on whether the trust came of “acting” or “thinking” our way through it.


Summary Thought

“From Jesus, we come to know God because Jesus is the complete and total revelation of God. If we look at the life of Jesus, we find a person who is a model of love, our savior and Redeemer.” (Catechesi Tradendae, 9)

Next Friday’s topic is “How Can I Deal with Suffering?” Please consider joining us. It could make a difference for you.