Dear friends of the word!

Near the conclusion of the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks with Simon Peter, the Disciple who had betrayed and rejected Him. Peter must have been suffering terrible guilt over this! However, the love of Jesus was bigger than the betrayal. Jesus not only let go of the mistakes of His friend, but He offers him a new life. Peter experiences a merciful love that he didn’t think possible. All Jesus asks Peter for in return is his love: “Peter, do you love me more than these?”

Jesus gave everything – for Peter - his betrayer, and for us, the “little betrayers”. Jesus died for each of us; his sacrifice an act of total love, an action that calls for an answer. It calls us to give EVERYTHING for Jesus, who has already given EVERYTHING for us. The question Jesus is ultimately asking Peter is: Are you, ready to put me first, before everything that is important to you? Are you ready to make sure God takes priority in your life?

Dear friends of the word, Jesus asks this question to everyone who comes to him. But how do we answer this call? Many temptations fight for out time and grab for our hearts. We do not always consider the consequences of how we spend our time, money and energy. We want to be popular, want to fit in with everyone else, and so we fail to give ourselves; our time, our money and our heart, to God. We use excuses to abandon and ignore Jesus! “I can’t at the weekend because of my sport event!” – “I’m sorry, my dancing partner called and I have to practice for the ball!” – “Oh, the party yesterday went too long! I can’t go because I’m so tired!”

There was a young man, came to know Jesus. Every evening he came to mass to share his experiences with the priest. As he grew in relationship with Jesus, he understood more and more what Jesus was asking for him. Trusting Jesus – he gave himself to Jesus’ will, to spend time working with the marginalised and rejected of his city. He moved in with some of them, to live with them the word of Jesus – just like the first Christians did. By following his example, many people all over the world find a way to God today.

Dear friends of the word, if you give you will receive! If you give yourselves to God, God will be reveal and give Himself to you. This will be the beginning of a heavenly adventure with you. Jesus says to all of us: “You must follow me!” – Are you ready?

For the OnWordTeam                                                                 Meinolf Wacker

  November 2009