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Something to Live By Being Jesus Figuring out how to allow Jesus to mold us from within takes a lifetime, but it is worth keeping this ideal before our minds and hearts. Each of the four Gospels provides clues as to how to take on the values and behaviors of one whose name we bear. Cutting through appearances and getting at the core of how to live is essential. Such a life begins with a response to God’s call, taking the risk of saying “yes.” It continues with regular and frequent periods of prayer and conversation with the One we call God in a way that fits each person. Our prayer gives us courage and insight in how to relate to others, looking out for those who are in need, adjusting our schedules to spend time with others, discovering our unique talents and desires and putting them to good use, taking the focus off of ourselves and allowing others to have center stage. The list is endless of how to take on the freeing characteristics of the one we call Christ Jesus. With Others But we don’t do this by ourselves. We need one another to learn more about God and to teach others what we have discovered. We need one another to join with us in worship, celebration, support and service. We need one another to fill up what is lacking in each one of us. We need one another to discover our call and join together in realising that call. We need others to stand by us in times of sorrow and loss, as well as joy and exultation. In a parish setting, this means participating in liturgy as a group rather than praying alone. It means relating with one another in gatherings large and small. It means fitting into a parish network of interaction and service that allows all the members to do more than they could possibly do on their own or by themselves. For Others Reaching out to others is at the heart of parish life. The focus is on service rather than survival, on providing resources rather than a safe haven for the membership, on paying attention to the “out there” rather than the “in here.” This is the conversion side of giving, that no matter how much or how little a parish community might have, it is meant to be given away and not kept for just themselves. Americans don’t do a very good job in saving and conserving, but because of the current economic downturn, they are learning to do with less, or even without. This is a prime moment for a parish community – to consider doing with less so as to give more to others.
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