"I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one" (Jn 17:15).We live in a world of contradictions. Especially we are often confronted by the challenge of good to evil and evil to good. All we need to do is look carefully at what happens each day. Just listen to news reports, which might best be called "hatred reports." Humankind is at war with itself. As Jesus prayed to his Father: "keep them from the evil one." He calls us to recognize that there is the reality of a genuine evil among us, an evil force, an evil power.
God created each of us with a specific intention, a distinct purpose in life. His intention for us can be clearly seen in what stirs genuine passion in our minds and souls. Recall Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II: each of these soon-to-be saints was alive with a passionate love for God who created them and, as well, with a passionate desire to help others struggling to do the will of God. A Dr. Martin Luther King, A Rabbi Abraham Heschel, a Dorothy Day were driven by genuine passion to improve the lot of every person in this world. They, too, were confronted by the challenges of evil in our world. They did not let that power extinguish the flame of passion that took their intentions to a higher degree each day.
God touches all of us regardless of who or what we are. "God," as St. Peter once said, "shows no partiality." And catch this in other words from this very human but enlivened preacher: "Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him." These words could offer hours of prayerful reflection.
And what does it mean to us? Use the gifts God has given to make the world a better experience. Us your power not to suppress but to express the wonders of God's creation. Use your talents not to put others down but to enrich the lives of others. Use your wealth not solely for yourself but as a means to free others from the burdens that trap them. Use your love to open up the hearts and souls of those frozen in paradigms of fear.
Jesus did not ask the Father to take them and us away from a world where evil would exist. Rather, he prayed that God would protect them and us from the evil that does surround all of us. Just as Jesus was missioned by his Father to the world, Jesus entrusts to each of us a unique mission -- to go into the world showing no partiality but living out the passion that captures our hearts, living out Gods intention for our lives.
So, where is your path leading you? Do you see your passion?
God created each of us with a specific intention, a distinct purpose in life. His intention for us can be clearly seen in what stirs genuine passion in our minds and souls. Recall Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II: each of these soon-to-be saints was alive with a passionate love for God who created them and, as well, with a passionate desire to help others struggling to do the will of God. A Dr. Martin Luther King, A Rabbi Abraham Heschel, a Dorothy Day were driven by genuine passion to improve the lot of every person in this world. They, too, were confronted by the challenges of evil in our world. They did not let that power extinguish the flame of passion that took their intentions to a higher degree each day.
God touches all of us regardless of who or what we are. "God," as St. Peter once said, "shows no partiality." And catch this in other words from this very human but enlivened preacher: "Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him." These words could offer hours of prayerful reflection.
And what does it mean to us? Use the gifts God has given to make the world a better experience. Us your power not to suppress but to express the wonders of God's creation. Use your talents not to put others down but to enrich the lives of others. Use your wealth not solely for yourself but as a means to free others from the burdens that trap them. Use your love to open up the hearts and souls of those frozen in paradigms of fear.
Jesus did not ask the Father to take them and us away from a world where evil would exist. Rather, he prayed that God would protect them and us from the evil that does surround all of us. Just as Jesus was missioned by his Father to the world, Jesus entrusts to each of us a unique mission -- to go into the world showing no partiality but living out the passion that captures our hearts, living out Gods intention for our lives.
So, where is your path leading you? Do you see your passion?
