Homily for all seasons: Bonding with Jesus

I think the most exciting and encouraging aspect of Christianity is the possibility of bonding with Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, in a loving relationship. Who would think that our God who is so powerful and magnificent and totally happy in his own right, would want to be in an intimate relationship with us, insignificant and often rebellious human beings. There are many and varied religions in the world, but none of them measure up to Christianity. The Jews were the first to know the one true God, but, for the most part they feared to approach him on an individual level. Moslems claim to know the one true God, but they see him as a vindictive God who is intent on punishing everyone who is not on board and agreeing with what Mohamed wrote in the Koran. Buddhists do not seem to need a personal relationship with God or even that he is necessary since by their own cognitive and willful powers they can reach a stage of peace without him. Hindus have so many Gods that we can't count them all. But not all Christians understand their potential to establish that personal intimate relationship with the God who made them, the son who redeemed them and the Holy Spirit who lives within, sustains, leads and sanctifies them.

In studying the lives of the Saints a discovery is made. They realized this potential, pursued and followed it. And that is the reason they became what they sought out to be - saints and wonderfully fulfilled people. I would like to quote a few of them here:

Oct 15 is the feast day of St. Teresa. In the office of the readings, St. Teresa explains the importance of a strong personal relationship and friendship with Jesus Christ.

If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us. He is a true friend. And I clearly see that if we expect to please him and receive an abundance of his graces, God desires that these graces must come to us from the hands of Christ, through his most sacred humanity in which God takes delight.

Many, many times I have perceived this through experience. The Lord as told it to me. I have definitely seen that we must enter by this gate if we wish his Sovereign Majesty to reveal to us great and hidden mysteries. A person should desire no other path, even if he is at the summit of contemplation; on this road he walks safely. All blessings come to us through our Lord. He will teach us, for in beholding his life we find that he is the best example.

What more do we desire from such a good friend at our side? Unlike our friends in the world, he will never abandon us when we are troubled or distressed. Blessed is the one who truly loves him and always keep him near. Let us consider the glorious St. Paul: it seems that no other name fell from his lips than that of Jesus, because the name of Jesus was fixed and embedded in his heart. Once I had come to understand this truth, I carefully considered the lives of some of the saints, the great contemplatives, and found they took no other path: Francis, Anthony of Padua, Catherine of Siena. A person must walk along this path in freedom, placing himself in God's hands. If God should desire to raise us to this position of one who is intimate and shares his secrets, we ought to accept this gladly.

Whenever we think of Christ we should recall the love that led him to bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of his love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse our selves to love him. For if at some time the Lord should grant us the grace of impressing his love on our hearts, all will become easy for us and we shall accomplish great things quickly and without effort.

Mother Theresa of Calcutta said:

To be able to become truly consecrated women we must more and more fall in love with Jesus and love him with all the powers of body and soul. As missionaries and consecrated women, we must give love the first place in our lives. Our vows, our apostolate, our community life are all the fruit of our love-union with Jesus.

The Cure of Ars - St. John Vianney wrote:

I love you, O my God, and my only desire is to love you until the last breath of my life. I love you O infinitely loveable God, and I would rather die loving you than live without loving you. I love you Lord, and the only grace I ask is to love you eternally…My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love you, I want my heart to repeat to you as often as I draw breath. (See Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2658)

Pope John Paul II (Crossing the Threshold of Hope)

It is necessary that the young know the Church, that they perceive Christ in the Church, Christ who walks through the centuries alongside each generation alongside every person. He walks alongside each person as a friend. An important day in a young person's life is the day on which he becomes convinced that this is the only friend who will not disappoint him, on whom he can always depend.

Chapter 14 of St. John's gospel gives us Jesus' own words of his desire of intimate union with his followers. If you love me you will keep my commandments and my Father will love you and I will love you. We will come and make our dwelling place within you and will send you the Holy Spirit who will teach you….In John's first letter, chapter 3 we come to understand that this union is meant to be permanent…We are God's children now, but we will be has not yet come to light. When it comes to light we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is. Therefore we keep ourselves pure even as he is pure.

We know that the only thing that can separate us from this union is sin. When two people love each other, they never want to do anything that would harm that relationship. And so it is with our relationship with Jesus Christ…He always welcomes us. In his own words: Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and you will find rest for your soul. (Matt 11:28) ………Fr. Marvin Deutsch, M.M.