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Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Why Jesus? What was so special about Jesus? What was it about Him that attracted so many people to Him? Here are just two simple concepts to reflect on.
Loving the unlovable. Not too long ago I read an article entitled: "Father who wanted to abort down syndrome daughter finds joy pushing her across finish line." [Warning: This article will bring tears of joy to your eyes.] At first glance you would think this was the story of the "perfect" man who gradually came to love his "not-so-perfect" daughter. It is not. It is the story of the "not-so-perfect" man who came to the humbling conclusion that his "not-so-perfect" daughter had made him a better man.
When the Lord touched lepers and forgave sinners, these simple acts "made" him a more perfect man. Can they do the same for us as well? I think so. It simply takes the right people to help us along the way.
This might sound strange, but the Lord actually "needed" the sick to show us, the healthy, compassion. He needed sinners to show us, the righteous, the mercy. And believe it or not, the Lord also needed enemies to impress upon us, His friends, forgiveness.
Love is heavenly blessed and best expressed when it comes in contact with the "unlovable."
Instead of us shying away from the unlovable, the untouchable and the unreachable, we must throw ourselves into their lives. It's true what the Lord said: "Without me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5). But it's equally true that without the right kind of people to "experiment" our faith on, we can do nothing.
These types of experiments have led to so many great experiences.
Forgiving the unforgivable. "In God I trust; I shall not fear" (Ps. 56:5b).
Just a few days ago, Gov. Andrew Cuomo made some very unpleasant remarks on the radio.
"...The Republican Party candidates are running against the SAFE-ACT. It was voted for by moderate Republicans who run the Senate. Their problem is not me and the Democrats, their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are "right to life," "pro assault weapon" "anti-gay"? Is that who they are? Because if that's who they are, and if they are the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York because that's not who New Yorkers are. If they're moderate Republicans, like in the Senate right now, who control the Senate -- moderate Republicans have a place in this state..."
For anyone to call Pro-lifers "extremists;" well, they must be extremists themselves; and to throw them into the same basket as those who are in favor of guns or discrimination; well, they must simply be ignorant. If anyone is an extremist, it is Gov. Cuomo, who claims to know who New Yorkers are and who they should be, and has come out in favor of partial-birth abortions, and has made a conscientious effort to belittle millions of fellow New Yorkers who disagree with him.
He should apologize for his mistake. And if he does, his apology should be accepted immediately.
Christ knew how to forgive people. He knew how to restore broken relationships. He knew what it took: forgiving the unforgiveable. This was His strength. This remains His strength. This is what makes Christianity so beautiful, so strong and so appealing. Forgetting this would be like taking Christ out of Christianity.
It is essential.
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